Astronomers get the best look at interstellar comet that fits right in with our solar system
5 years, 5 months ago

Astronomers get the best look at interstellar comet that fits right in with our solar system

CNN  

CNN — It’s only the second observed “interloper” to cross into our solar system, but interstellar comet 21/Borisov looks incredibly similar to our own comets based on new observations by astronomers. Astronomers at Jagiellonian University in Krakow created a computer program called “Interstellar Crusher” after the first observed interstellar object quickly zipped through our solar system. Observations by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Dynamics Group have supported that this comet has the most hyperbolic orbit out of the thousands of known comets. Since then, observations have confirmed that the comet originated from outside of our solar system and it was named 2I/Borisov by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center.

Comet Solar System Earth Solar System Nasa Our Solar System Comets Object Interstellar Interstellar Comet Jagiellonian University Guzik Best Observations  interstellar  astronomers  look  telescopes  outside  system  jagiellonian  comet  comets  right  fits  best  observations  solar  object

History of this topic

NASA detects more dark comets, providing more clues to how planets form
3 months, 2 weeks ago

NASA detects more dark comets, providing more clues to how planets form

Salon  

There’s a lot of stuff in space that we know is there but we can’t see very well or at all. Despite these obstacles, however, scientists publishing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences say they have discovered more dark comets in our solar system than previously thought. The new paper adds an additional seven dark comets …

Mysterious interstellar object may have altered solar system orbits, study says
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Mysterious interstellar object may have altered solar system orbits, study says

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A massive interstellar object passing through our solar system during its formative years …

Nasa discovers seven new mysterious dark comets that we know very little about
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Nasa discovers seven new mysterious dark comets that we know very little about

India Today  

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of astronomy with the identification of seven new "dark comets," celestial objects that resemble asteroids but exhibit comet-like behavior. The concept of dark comets emerged from observations of asteroid 2003 RM in 2016, which displayed unexpected orbital deviations that could not be explained by typical asteroid dynamics. While dark comets do …

Comet last spotted in Neanderthal times to make an extremely rare appearance later this MONTH
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Comet last spotted in Neanderthal times to make an extremely rare appearance later this MONTH

Daily Mail  

Even by the usual standards of stargazing, it is a rare opportunity. Comet C/2023 A3 was last seen when Neanderthals walked the Earth, experts say Now, though, it is set to make its closest approach to Earth, giving stargazers in the UK a good chance of spotting it in the evening - even without the help of binoculars or a …

Scientists Predict Rare Naked-Eye Comet May Disintegrate Before Reaching Closest Point To Sun
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Scientists Predict Rare Naked-Eye Comet May Disintegrate Before Reaching Closest Point To Sun

News 18  

Scientists have warned that a rare naked-eye comet may disintegrate before it reaches its closest point to the Sun, according to a recent study. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was discovered in January 2023 by China’s Purple Mountain Observatory and later identified by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in South Africa. However, a recent study led by Czech-American astronomer Zdeněk Sekanina suggests …

Physicist who found spherical meteor fragments claims they may come from an alien spaceship
1 year, 8 months ago

Physicist who found spherical meteor fragments claims they may come from an alien spaceship

The Hindu  

Avi Loeb, a physicist from Harvard University in the US, has recovered 50 tiny spherical iron fragments from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that he claims may be material from an interstellar alien spaceship. That’s when they found CNEOS 20140108 and, based on its high velocity, suggested it was an interstellar meteor – giving it the more manageable name …

Scientists offer 'non-alien explanation' for interstellar visitor
2 years ago

Scientists offer 'non-alien explanation' for interstellar visitor

The Hindu  

When the first object ever known to have visited the Earth's Solar System from outer space zoomed past in 2017, it was so strange that at least one leading astronomer was convinced it was an alien vessel. But researchers said Wednesday that they had come up with a simple and "compelling non-alien explanation" for the interstellar interloper's bizarre behaviour -- …

Scientists offer 'non-alien explanation' for interstellar visitor known as 'Oumuamua
2 years ago

Scientists offer 'non-alien explanation' for interstellar visitor known as 'Oumuamua

ABC  

When the first object ever known to have visited our Solar System from outer space zoomed past in 2017, it was so strange that at least one leading astronomer was convinced it was an alien vessel. Key points: 'Oumuamua left scientists baffled when it was detected by an observatory in Hawaii in 2017 A new study theorises that it started …

Nasa’s shares image of most distant in-bound comet ever found
2 years, 9 months ago

Nasa’s shares image of most distant in-bound comet ever found

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Amateur astronomer Jose Chambo captured an image of comet C/2017 K2 on 20 June, which is now …

Meteorite that hit Earth in 2014 was from another solar system: Here’s everything we know about the alien object
2 years, 11 months ago

Meteorite that hit Earth in 2014 was from another solar system: Here’s everything we know about the alien object

Firstpost  

A meteor that hit Earth in January 2014 has now been confirmed by the US Space Command as the first interstellar object that came from another solar system A meteor that hit Earth in January 2014 has now been confirmed by the US Space Command as the first interstellar object that came from another solar system. 6/ “I had the …

The first known interstellar meteor hit Earth in 2014, U.S. officials say
2 years, 11 months ago

The first known interstellar meteor hit Earth in 2014, U.S. officials say

NPR  

The first known interstellar meteor hit Earth in 2014, U.S. officials say U.S. officials confirmed that a space rock that streaked through the skies off the coast of Papua New Guinea in January 2014 was, in fact, an incredibly rare meteor that originated from beyond the solar system. He was studying what was at the time considered the first-known interstellar …

1st known interstellar meteor collided with Earth, US military confirmed
2 years, 11 months ago

1st known interstellar meteor collided with Earth, US military confirmed

CNN  

CNN — One meteor traveled quite a long way from home to visit Earth. Researchers discovered the first known interstellar meteor to ever hit Earth, according to a recently released United States Space Command document. Siraj decided to go through NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies database to find other interstellar objects and found what he believed to be …

Nasa spots record breaking, huge comet headed towards Earth
2 years, 11 months ago

Nasa spots record breaking, huge comet headed towards Earth

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It is also thought to have a mass of about 500 trillion tons – a hundred thousand …

Researchers discover a gargantuan comet 1,000 times bigger than usual heading towards Earth
3 years, 5 months ago

Researchers discover a gargantuan comet 1,000 times bigger than usual heading towards Earth

Firstpost  

Scientists predict that the comet will come closest to the Earth about a decade later, sometime in the year 2031. A gigantic comet, estimated to be about 1,000 times more massive than a typical comet, is heading towards the inner solar system. Later, the object appeared to have a tail - an indicator of being a comet and was seen …

Astronomers say newly discovered asteroid is also a comet because it contains 'icy material'
3 years, 5 months ago

Astronomers say newly discovered asteroid is also a comet because it contains 'icy material'

Daily Mail  

What do you call an asteroid when it's not an asteroid? 'It fits the physical definitions of a comet, in that it is likely icy and is ejecting dust into space, even though it also has the orbit of an asteroid,' Henry Hsieh, a researcher with the Planetary Science Institute, said in a presentation on Monday. Scroll down for video …

Largest known comet is heading close enough to us to become visible
3 years, 8 months ago

Largest known comet is heading close enough to us to become visible

CNN  

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein, so named because it was found by University of Pennsylvania department of physics and astronomy graduate student Pedro Bernardinelli and Professor Gary Bernstein, is between 62 to 124 miles across. J. da Silva/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA The giant comet, also known as C/2014 UN271, is from the outskirts of our solar system and …

A mega comet has entered our Solar System: Observations place it closer than Neptune
3 years, 9 months ago

A mega comet has entered our Solar System: Observations place it closer than Neptune

India Today  

Comets, the frozen leftovers from the formation of the Solar System, have always been a matter of curiosity for scientists across the world, as they could hold clues about the formation of the universe. A 6,00,000 year orbit When first observed in 2014, the mega comet was about 29 Astronomical Units away from Sun — 1 AU is the distance …

Comet That Gatecrashed Through Our Solar System is No Ordinary Interstellar Object. Here’s Why
4 years ago

Comet That Gatecrashed Through Our Solar System is No Ordinary Interstellar Object. Here’s Why

News 18  

Scientists have discovered that a comet called 2I/Borisov – only the second interstellar object ever detected passing through the solar system – is surprisingly different in its composition from comets hailing from our celestial neighbourhood. Gas coming off 2I/Borisov contained high amounts of carbon monoxide – for more than comets formed in our solar system – indicating the object had …

Pristine interstellar comet came from a system containing giant planets
4 years ago

Pristine interstellar comet came from a system containing giant planets

CNN  

CNN — An interstellar comet that crossed into our solar system nearly two years ago is revealing more of its secrets. However, previous observations of the interstellar comet suggested it was more like those found in our solar system, and little was known about the comet’s nucleus. Now it’s being used to study and observe the first known comet that …

No cigar: Interstellar object is cookie-shaped planet shard
4 years ago

No cigar: Interstellar object is cookie-shaped planet shard

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Arizona State University astronomers reported …

Scientists believe they know where mysterious ‘alien spacecraft’ comet actually came from
4 years ago

Scientists believe they know where mysterious ‘alien spacecraft’ comet actually came from

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “This research is exciting in that we’ve probably resolved the mystery of what ‘ is and we …

UK scientists gear up to build a comet-chasing spacecraft that will launch in 2028
4 years, 3 months ago

UK scientists gear up to build a comet-chasing spacecraft that will launch in 2028

Firstpost  

The mission will allow scientists to know about the history of the solar system as never seen before. The mothership will be built in the UK by Thales Alenia Space and will hold two smaller robotic probes from Japan that can be released when in close proximity to the comet for extremely close fly-bys. He added that the mission will …

WATCH: Timelapse Video of Comet ISON Captured by NASA's Hubble Telescope is Out of the World
4 years, 4 months ago

WATCH: Timelapse Video of Comet ISON Captured by NASA's Hubble Telescope is Out of the World

News 18  

Time works in mysterious ways especially in space, and a seven-year-old video by NASA proves just that. The latest video shared on the official Instagram account of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope shows a journey of a comet travelling through space. One user commented, “Thank u hubble u always make my day,” while others expressed how they are learning a lot …

Scientists report 'unusual' findings after scanning comet that visited from another solar system
4 years, 11 months ago

Scientists report 'unusual' findings after scanning comet that visited from another solar system

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Scientists have peered at the chemicals inside an object from another solar system …

Scientists get first look inside comet from outside our solar system
4 years, 11 months ago

Scientists get first look inside comet from outside our solar system

CNN  

CNN — When interstellar comet 2I/Borisov entered our solar system last year, this time capsule from another place in the universe opened and revealed information about its origin, according to new research. “This is the first time we’ve ever looked inside a comet from outside our solar system,” said Martin Cordiner, astrochemist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland …

So You’ve Found a Comet With a Weird Orbit …
4 years, 11 months ago

So You’ve Found a Comet With a Weird Orbit …

Wired  

On the evening of March 28, a small automated observatory on the Andean steppe in northwestern Argentina watched a previously undetected comet drift through the solar system nearly 500 million miles away. The data from additional observations has slightly reduced the chances that the comet is interstellar, but the rock’s provenance is still an open question. “Interstellar objects are unlikely, …

How ‘Oumuamua, first interstellar visitor to our solar system, may have formed
4 years, 11 months ago

How ‘Oumuamua, first interstellar visitor to our solar system, may have formed

CNN  

CNN — The first observed interstellar object blazed through our solar system more than two years ago. After discovery, the object was dubbed ‘Oumuamua, Hawaiian for “a messenger that reaches out from the distant past.” At first, astronomers expected that it was a comet because it was long believed that the first object spotted in our solar system that originated …

The 2010s were stellar for space and science discoveries. Or should we say, ‘interstellar?’
5 years, 3 months ago

The 2010s were stellar for space and science discoveries. Or should we say, ‘interstellar?’

CNN  

CNN — As humans, we’re motivated by curiosity and a desire to know more. Rovers found water on Mars; new species were discovered on Earth; two interstellar visitors zipped through our solar system; some of the earliest human fossils changed history; and twin astronauts helped scientists understand what the human body can withstand in space – among many other intriguing …

Nasa releases never-before-seen image of mysterious object that arrived from another solar system
5 years, 3 months ago

Nasa releases never-before-seen image of mysterious object that arrived from another solar system

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nasa has released never-before-seen images of 2I/Borisov, only the second known object to …

Hubble catches interstellar comet as it flies past the sun
5 years, 3 months ago

Hubble catches interstellar comet as it flies past the sun

CNN  

CNN — The Hubble Space Telescope had a front row seat to capture the best and closest image to date of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov, a visitor that originated from outside of our solar system. On Sunday, the comet passed within 190 million miles of Earth on its closest approach before continuing on through our solar system. The comet won’t remain …

Interstellar comet 2I/Borisov is visiting from deep space — but it's also strangely familiar
5 years, 4 months ago

Interstellar comet 2I/Borisov is visiting from deep space — but it's also strangely familiar

ABC  

There's an interloper in our solar system. Key points: Comet 2I/Borisov is only the second interstellar object we've detected entering our solar system But it's not that different from comets formed in our solar system This suggests that we may not be as unique a planetary system as we thought Going by the name 2I/Borisov, the visitor is a dirty …

2I/Borisov comet was formed in another planetary system that might be similar to ours
5 years, 5 months ago

2I/Borisov comet was formed in another planetary system that might be similar to ours

Firstpost  

The comet is expected to reach its closest point to the Sun on 8 December and closest point to the Earth soon after. The second interstellar object ever spotted passing through the solar system is a comet that appears quite like those formed in our neighbourhood of the cosmos, providing fresh evidence that other planetary systems may be very similar …

Expect more interstellar object sightings in our solar system, researchers say
5 years, 6 months ago

Expect more interstellar object sightings in our solar system, researchers say

CNN  

CNN — Astronomers have spotted two interstellar objects to our solar system in the last two years, and that’s just the beginning. Researchers believe that in the future, we can expect to see several large objects that originated outside of our solar system zipping through it. But of the 4,000 confirmed planets outside of our solar system, called exoplanets, most …

2nd interstellar visitor to our solar system confirmed and named
5 years, 6 months ago

2nd interstellar visitor to our solar system confirmed and named

CNN  

CNN — An unusual object detected streaking across the sky last month was a comet that originated outside our solar system, observations have confirmed, becoming only the second observed interstellar object to cross into our solar system. European Southern Observatory This image from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey shows the galaxy J0437+2456, which includes a supermassive black hole at its …

Scientists release stunning picture of first comet from another solar system
5 years, 6 months ago

Scientists release stunning picture of first comet from another solar system

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Scientists have revealed stunning images of the first comet from another solar system …

Astronomers have discovered a new comet — and it could be from outside the solar system
5 years, 6 months ago

Astronomers have discovered a new comet — and it could be from outside the solar system

ABC  

The solar system has an unexpected house guest, and it might not be from around this way. If it's found to have originated from outside the solar system, it will be just the second time astronomers have detected an interstellar comet. "This is actually a big deal, because pretty much every asteroid, every comet, every planet, everything except stars and …

New comet likely visitor from another solar system
5 years, 6 months ago

New comet likely visitor from another solar system

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The solar system may have another foreign guest. Both NASA and the European Space Agency are reporting that a newly discovered comet zooming toward the sun is likely from another star. Astronomers said Thursday it’s traveling 93,000 mph, so fast it likely originated outside our solar system. “We are now working on getting more observations of …

This interstellar visitor was not an alien spacecraft, researchers say
5 years, 9 months ago

This interstellar visitor was not an alien spacecraft, researchers say

CNN  

CNN — On October 19, 2017, the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii spotted something strange zooming through our solar system. It was the first observed object from outside our solar system, according to a study published in the journal Nature – and, as the researchers call it, an “oddball.” “What we found was a rapidly rotating object, at least the …

‘Comet interceptor’ craft built in Europe to unlock space secrets billions of years old
5 years, 9 months ago

‘Comet interceptor’ craft built in Europe to unlock space secrets billions of years old

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Led from the UK’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, the new mission will see three separate spacecraft fly …

An interstellar meteor may have hit Earth, and the implications are fascinating
5 years, 11 months ago

An interstellar meteor may have hit Earth, and the implications are fascinating

CNN  

CNN — It could take humanity hundreds, if not thousands, of years to develop the capability to explore interstellar space. “Almost all of the objects that hit the Earth originate for the solar system,” explains Dr. Abraham Loeb, the chair of the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University, and the co-atuhor of the study. We can actually examine it, just …

Harvard astronomer defends theory interstellar object could have been alien spacecraft
6 years, 2 months ago

Harvard astronomer defends theory interstellar object could have been alien spacecraft

ABC  

The chairman of Harvard University's astronomy department has defended his controversial claim that an interstellar object that passed through our solar system could have been "of artificial origin". Key points: In October 2017, NASA said the recently discovered visitor appeared "to have originated from outside the solar system" Two Harvard astronomers said it could have been a discarded light sail, …

An ‘interstellar object’ comes calling
6 years, 8 months ago

An ‘interstellar object’ comes calling

The Hindu  

‘Oumuamua, the first interstellar object discovered in the solar system in October 2017, is moving away from the sun faster than expected. The original observations indicated a 230-metre-long, elongated, tiny object whose colour was similar to that of a comet and whose extremely eccentric orbit too led the International Astronomical to classify it as one. “We think that ‘Oumuamua may …

Astronomers classify the mysterious interstellar object ‘Oumuamua as a comet
6 years, 9 months ago

Astronomers classify the mysterious interstellar object ‘Oumuamua as a comet

Firstpost  

Oumuamua was first detected last October by the University of Hawaii’s Pan-STARRS1 telescope. The reddish cigar-shaped object called ‘Oumuamua spotted last year tumbling through space is a comet, scientists said on 27 June, solving the mystery over how to classify the first interstellar object found passing through our solar system. “It does not display any tail in any observation we …

Mysterious interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua appears to be a comet after all
6 years, 9 months ago

Mysterious interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua appears to be a comet after all

ABC  

Our first ever visitor from interstellar space left a trail of mystery in its wake when it zipped past late last year. Key points: 'Oumuamua is a Hawaiian word meaning "a messenger from afar arriving first" It is the first object from another solar system we've detected It was unclear whether it was a comet or an asteroid. It did …

What exactly was this ‘interstellar visitor’?
6 years, 9 months ago

What exactly was this ‘interstellar visitor’?

CNN  

Story highlights 'Oumuamua is the first interstellar object observed in our solar system It acts more like a comet than an asteroid CNN — In October, a cigar-shaped interstellar visitor nicknamed ‘Oumuamua was spotted tumbling through our solar system at 85,700 miles per hour. Astronomer Marco Micheli and his colleagues used the observations of ‘Oumuamua’s motion as it traveled through …

Unusual Asteroid Could Be An Interstellar Guest To Our Solar System
6 years, 10 months ago

Unusual Asteroid Could Be An Interstellar Guest To Our Solar System

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Researchers postulate that a peculiar asteroid spotted near Jupiter is a permanent guest from a completely different solar system. In an article published Monday in the U.K.’s Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the researchers say their studies indicate that asteroid 2015 BZ509 is actually an “interstellar immigrant” that has been circling the sun ever since …

Alien star streaked through our solar system and jostled its contents, scientists say
7 years ago

Alien star streaked through our solar system and jostled its contents, scientists say

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Some 70,000 years ago, when humans and Neanderthals shared the planet, …

Interstellar 'comet' Oumuamua is just a crusty old rock
7 years, 3 months ago

Interstellar 'comet' Oumuamua is just a crusty old rock

Daily Mail  

Earlier this month, a skyscraper-sized space rock floated into our solar system, sparking claims that it was a spacecraft sent by extraterrestrials. Scroll down for video A skyscraper-sized space rock which floated into our solar system has withstood the intense heat of the sun because it is coated in a special crust, a new study suggests OUMUAMUA A cigar-shaped comet …

Meet ‘Oumuamua, the first observed interstellar visitor to our solar system
7 years, 4 months ago

Meet ‘Oumuamua, the first observed interstellar visitor to our solar system

CNN  

Story highlights A strange visitor to our solar system has been identified as an interstellar asteroid It's zooming through our solar system and will leave in 2019 CNN — On October 19, the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii spotted something strange zooming through our solar system. It is the first observed object from outside our solar system, according to a …

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