In 2014, an object from space fell into the ocean off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Astronomers suspected it It may come from outside the solar system. It would only be the third object of its kind in our system. The first to fall to the ground.
The fact that it comes from outside our system is evidenced by its orbit and its velocity. He was noticed by Amir Siraj (a student at the time) and the professor. Harvard’s Avi Loeb is like Space.com.
Object is highlighted CNEOS 01/08/2014. Astronomers estimate it to be about half a meter across. Most of it must have burned up as it passed through the atmosphere. Only small – but very valuable – fragments fell into the ocean.
The problem is Data about the object’s collision with the Earth comes from US spy satellites. The Ministry of Defense released them but did not release a single important piece of information.
This important piece of information that will help in tracking CNEOS 1:01 is Margin of error for satellite measurements. Understandably, the Department of Defense is not prepared to disclose this. Do not reveal to potential opponents whether the satellite can track something up to half a meter or five meters away.
Unfortunately, without this knowledge, scholars They weren’t sure of the body’s speed. No one is in a hurry to officially announce that he came from outside the solar system. The work of both scientists cannot be reviewed (and is required before publication) because it does not contain statistically significant data – only a margin of error in the measurements.
All scientists have at their disposal is a statement by Joel Moser (Chief of the Science Team of the US Space Force), which asserted that ” The speed reported by NASA is high enough to suggest an interstellar path“.
The data at their disposal allows the search for the remains of CNEOS 2014-01-08 to be narrowed down to an area of 10 x 10 kilometres. So it is not impossible. Especially since the parts must contain a lot of ferromagnetic metals. You can collect them from the bottom of the sea using magnets.
Do you succeed? As soon as scientists have the money for it. The sea voyage and the search of the sea floor are expensive, and it would require raising such a large sum.
If the parts are found, scientists will get a chance For the first time to explore something that comes exactly from interstellar space. The other two comets ‘Oumuamua and Borisov only passed through the solar system. Too fast to send sensors to them.
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