More Oumuamua Strangeness | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The recent discovery of interstellar comet Borisov raises questions about why previous interstellar comets were not detected, while new research suggests Oumuamua may be a giant snowflake-like object pushed by sunlight.

Key Insights

• ☄️ Interstellar comet Borisov behaves similarly to solar system comets, suggesting that interstellar medium erosion may not be responsible for the lack of previous observations.
• 😘 Oumuamua's abnormal behavior suggests that it may not be a comet but rather a low-density object pushed by sunlight.
• 🤩 The possibility of Oumuamua being a giant snowflake-like object formed in young star systems with debris disks presents an alternative explanation for its behavior.
• 🌟 Modeling of fractals in star systems supports the idea that Oumuamua could be a low-density object.
• 🥺 The restricted conditions necessary for the formation of Oumuamua-like objects make them potentially rare, leading to ongoing speculation and debate.
• 🤨 The discovery of interstellar comets raises new questions about the nature and origins of these objects.
• 👨‍🔬 Research on interstellar comets provides insights into the behavior and composition of objects originating outside our solar system.

Transcript

With the current passage of comet borisov through the solar system studies of that object, the second interstellar object to be identified, are proving that despite being from somewhere else in the galaxy it’s not that different from a run of the mill solar system comet. This deepens two mysteries, however. The first is why we haven’t seen an inter... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why have scientists not observed an interstellar comet before Borisov?

Scientists were previously unable to detect interstellar comets, possibly due to their low volatiles left for observation or the difficulty in spotting them if they don't flare up like Borisov.

Q: Why did Oumuamua's behavior during its passage through the solar system raise questions?

Oumuamua accelerated on its way out, despite the lack of observed outgassing typically associated with comets, suggesting it may not be a comet. This unusual behavior prompted the speculation of it being an alien light sail.

Q: What alternative explanation does the new paper propose for Oumuamua's behavior?

The paper suggests that Oumuamua may be a low-density object, resembling a giant snowflake rather than a light sail. This could be due to its formation in young star systems with dust and ice particles forming fractal structures.

Q: Will we see more interstellar objects like Oumuamua?

The rarity of young star systems with debris disks suggests that Oumuamua-like objects may be uncommon, making it uncertain whether we will observe another object similar to Oumuamua in the future.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Interstellar comet Borisov behaves similarly to solar system comets, forming a tail and a coma, raising the question of why interstellar comets haven't been observed before.

• Oumuamua, the first interstellar object discovered, exhibited abnormal behavior as it accelerated on its way out of the solar system without any apparent outgassing.

• Recent research proposes that Oumuamua may be a very low-density object resembling a giant snowflake, potentially formed in young star systems with debris disks.