oumuamua | EarthSky

Is ‘Oumuamua a frozen piece of an exoPluto?

A new theory about 'Oumuamua suggests the weird object that passed through our solar system in 2017 was a remnant of a Pluto-like world from another solar system. As one scientist said, "‘Oumuamua may be the first piece of an exoplanet brought to us."

A computer-simulated image of a cigar-shaped body made of varying materials.

Is ‘Oumuamua a fragment of a shattered super-Earth?

Computer simulations confirm that 'Oumuamua - an object from another star system that sped near our sun in 2017 - likely formed via a close encounter with its star. 'Oumuamua may have originated in a debris disk, they said, or even a shattered super-Earth.

Long rocky asteroid-like object against background of stars and Milky Way.

Was ‘Oumuamua a cosmic dust bunny?

'Oumuamua - the weird object that entered our solar system in 2017 and quickly fled back toward interstellar space - might not be an asteroid or comet from a distant solar system, as many believed. It might instead be a "cosmic dust bunny."

Radio search finds no artificial emissions from ‘Oumuamua

“We were looking for a signal that would prove that this object incorporates some technology."

Could ‘Oumuamua be an alien lightsail?

The object we call 'Oumuamua entered our solar system a year ago and quickly left again. It's a very puzzling object. Could it be an alien lightsail? A new paper from Harvard discusses that possibility.

Which one is ‘Oumuamua’s home star?

The 1st object known to be from another solar system passed through our solar system a year ago. Where did it come from? Astronomers have identified 4 plausible candidates.

5 things we know – and 5 we don’t – about ‘Oumuamua

Mysterious 'Oumuamua is the 1st confirmed interstellar object to pass through our solar system.

Oumuamua’s path in our solar system

You’ve probably read about this unprecedented visitor from interstellar space. Astronomer Guy Ottewell thought you’d like to see its trajectory through our solar system.

Man with white hair and glasses writes equation on whiteboard.

Happy birthday, Frank Drake

May 28, 2021 is the 91st birthday of Frank Drake. He formulated the famous Drake Equation in 1961, as a tool for contemplating alien civilizations.

Listen: Have aliens already visited us?

A podcast featuring Harvard theoretical physicist Avi Loeb, on the subject of whether 'Oumuamua - the strange object that swept through our solar system in 2017 - is an artifact of an alien intelligence.

Ball of light with tail surrounded by colorful streaks.

Interstellar visitor Borisov could be 1st truly pristine comet yet seen

Comet 2I/Borisov is the 2nd known object to pass near our sun from outside our solar system. Its 2019 pass near our sun might have been its first-ever interaction with a star. If so, it's among the most pristine, or unspoiled, objects yet known.

A human standing under the Milky Way in starry sky, looking up.

The 1st sign of intelligent life beyond Earth?

Physicist Avi Loeb of Harvard believes we should take seriously the idea that 'Oumuamua - the 1st known object to pass through our solar system from interstellar space - might have been created by an alien civilization. His new book is called "Extraterrestrial."

Is ‘Oumuamua a frozen piece of an exoPluto?