Most researchers are calling the object, named Oumuamua, entirely unique in terms of solar-native asteroids and comets. Now, as it cruises past earth, scientists are listening in for signs of possible extraterrestrial technology. According to the Guardian, the object was first spotted and named by researchers from Hawaii University using the Pan-Starrs telescope. Developed by University researchers of the Institute For Astronomy, the device is capable of scanning wide ranges of earth’s celestial view.
A separate team from the Breakthrough Listen project, Guardian reports, will scan the object for possible radio transmissions. Oumaumula, which in the Hawaiian language means “messenger”, entered our solar system in October. It's not just unique in that it’s the first recorded interstellar object recorded by modern civilization. It’s flat shape, at over 400 meters long yet only a tenth as wide, was also a curiosity. That’s quite unlike the monstrous, jagged mountains we’re used to seeing in our solar system. An artist’s representation of the object can be found on the Guardian piece. In all honesty, it reminds the author of a Pelican drop ship from the Halo video game series. “Most likely it is of natural origin”, says Harvard astronomy Professor Avi Loeb, “but because it is so peculiar, we would like to check if it has any sign of artificial origin.” Loeb, who’s also part of the Breakthrough Listen project, says if there are radio signals coming off Oumuamua, “we’ll know immediately.” Although scientists are saying it’s unlikely they’ll hear anything, you never know.
As it stands, Oumuanmua is expected to exit our solar system, using our system’s concentration of gravity to catapult itself into another void. That’s what we expect at least. Oumanmua entered our galactic neighborhood peaking out at 196,000 mph. Whether that statement implies the object’s speed fluctuated, or slowed, is unclear. So far, analysis suggests its reddish color, and reflects 96% of light hitting it.
According to the Guardian, that’s consistent with what we know about asteroids and comets. Oumauamua’s unique shape, however, is unprecedented in our solar system. When detected, it was passing the earth at a distance of 85 times the moon’s distance from our planet.
It’d entered our system in an unusual way as well, as if dropping in from above. The Guardian also provided a motion graphic of the objects course in and out of our solar system. As it continues on it’s predicted route, we must take a step back and grasp the big picture. Oumauanmua is a reminder that our universe is a very lively, dynamic environment we’ve yet to reasonably explore. On Earth, we’re at the mercy of whatever hurdles out of the black towards our proximity. Whether a naturally occurring rock, an element unknown to mankind or something artificial, Oumauanmua was an unexpected development. Lastly, paying close attention to news in the coming days on the object may be vital. How would the world react if there was evidence of radio transmissions from “the messenger”? If there weren’t any signals, is there anything else of interest? What would it mean if, despite the magnitude of the find, news doesn't come?
Editor's note; After watching a very informative video. I'd to explain that Astronomers can detect that the asteroid reflects the red spectrum of color when exposed to light. The current belief is that Oumuamua is a very dark, almost black color.