(ORDO NEWS) — Over the past few years, we have discovered two interstellar objects, the asteroid Oumuamua and comet Borisov. Scientists intend to investigate them, and here are their plans.
We could get a lot of useful information in the study of these objects. Here is the plan proposed by the astronomers.
Interstellar objects in our solar system are quite strange. Comet Borisov looked like a typical comet when it entered the solar system, but ‘Oumuamua was completely different.
It never had a cometary tail, as many scientists expected. Its acceleration could not be explained by radiation or other factors, leading some prominent scientists to argue that it might even be an alien probe.
The best way to deal with such bizarre claims is to take a close look at the mysterious object.
And for this you need to come up with a mission that would allow you to land on them and collect samples. But first you need to see them up close, and astronomers are already working on it.
Interstellar exploration mission
The Vera C Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will be able to detect anywhere from 1 to 10 interstellar objects about the same size as ‘Oumuamua each year, according to the authors of the new study . This is a great opportunity to find the right candidate.
To do this, scientists propose to place two space telescopes at the Lagrange points L1 and L2. The authors calculated that there is an 85 percent chance that a telescope located on L2 will be able to find a suitable ‘Oumuamua-sized interstellar object of interest within 10 years.
Once we can detect an interstellar object, it remains only to patiently wait for the right opportunity. When the telescope begins to approach the object, it will be able to start observing from a close distance.
This will provide a complete spectroscopic map of both natural and artificial materials, which could help resolve the debate about whether such objects are probes of alien origin.
He can also track any gas emissions that could explain the mysterious forces at work on ‘Oumuamua. Undoubtedly, there are many more interesting things scientists would like to know about the first interstellar object we visit.
And the data that such a hypothetical mission will receive will be quite enough for far-reaching conclusions.
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