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July 12, 2021
Until recently, it was believed that all discovered asteroids and comets were formed within the solar system. However, in recent years, evidence has emerged that suggests that this is not entirely true.
On October 19, 2017, the first interstellar object passing through the solar system was discovered, this is the asteroid Oumuamua. It was discovered by Canadian astronomer Robert Werick at the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii. The name Oumuamua translated from Hawaiian means "a messenger from afar."
Initially, the object was classified as C / 2017 U1 comet, but then due to the absence of a coma, it was reclassified as an asteroid with the designation A / 2017 U1. Later, the International Astronomical Union specifically for objects of this type introduced a special index "I" (short for interstellar-interstellar), so the official designation of the first interstellar asteroid at the present time is 1I / 2017 U1. The asteroid passed perihelion at a distance of 0.25 AU. from the sun. The object is very faint, with an apparent magnitude of 23m. The asteroid is very elongated, its dimensions are 230 × 35 × 35 meters. According to scientists, the asteroid was ejected, presumably from the constellation Carina 45 million years ago.
At the time of discovery, the object flew at a speed of 46 km / s. In 2018, it crossed the orbit of Jupiter, in 2019 - the orbit of Saturn, in 2020 - Uranus. Oumuamua is now moving away from the Sun at an angle of 66 ° from the original direction and after a while will leave the solar system. Most researchers believe that the asteroid is a natural object, possibly part of some kind of exoplanet.
Source: Moscow Planetarium.
Related links:
ROSCOSMOS Press Release: https://www.roscosmos.ru/31814/
Moscow Planetarium: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/moskovskiy-planetariy/
Asteroid: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/asteroid/
Images, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS/Moscow Planetarium/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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