In her TED talk, Karen J. Meech discusses the discovery of ‘Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object to visit our solar system. Detected by the Pan-STARRS telescope on October 19, 2017, ‘Oumuamua’s rapid movement and trajectory indicated it originated from another star system, making it a groundbreaking find. Named from Hawaiian words meaning “scout” or “messenger,” ‘Oumuamua entered our solar system from the constellation Lyra and passed closest to the Sun on September 9, 2017, and to Earth on October 14, 2017, within 15 million miles.Meech details the excitement and challenges faced by astronomers as they scrambled to study ‘Oumuamua. Its unusual brightness changes suggested it had an elongated, cigar-like shape with an axis ratio of about 10:1, which is unique compared to objects in our solar system. This shape was confirmed by the varying light reflections observed as it rotated and tumbled. Despite efforts to analyze its surface and composition, many questions remain, including its exact material makeup and origins.’ Oumuamua’s brief visit highlighted the potential for more interstellar objects and underscored the need for improved detection methods. While it is unlikely to be alien technology, the discovery emphasizes our solar system’s connection to a broader cosmic environment, sparking curiosity about other potential interstellar visitors.
