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The first-known interstellar object in our solar system, known as ‘Oumuamua, continues to defy scientific explanation. Now, one of the latest explanations for what the cigar-shaped interloper is made of — a “nitrogen iceberg” — has also been shot down.
In a recent attempt to explain ‘Oumuamua, researchers described it as a nitrogen iceberg. But astrophysicists at Harvard say that’s impossible, and explain why in a new paper published Nov. 5 in the journal New Astronomy.
In October 2017, when astronomers first caught sight of ‘Oumuamua zipping through our solar system, it was making its exit at nearly 57,000 mph (92,000 km/h) — way too fast to have originated in our solar system.
As the flat, wonky-shaped object passed the sun, tumbling end-over-end, it accelerated at a pace that couldn’t be explained by the gravitational pull of the sun. And astronomers couldn’t find any visible evidence of a propellant, such as water vapor or gases escaping the object and thrusting it forward.
Not only are scientists unsure what propelled ‘Oumuamua on its slingshot visit into and out of our solar system, they also don’t know what it is made of.
But in March, Arizona State University astrophysicists Alan Jackson and Steven Desch said they had figured it out. The team published two papers announcing that ‘Oumuamua was most likely a chunk of nitrogen ice that popped off a Pluto-like planet somewhere outside our solar system, Live Science previously reported.
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The interloper ‘Oumuamua continues to puzzle astronomers and astrophysicists. (Image credit: Bjorn Bakstad via Getty Images)
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