While scientists debate the nature of interstellar objects like ‘Oumuamua for many years, one new study suggests that it may not be an iceberg made from nitrogen.
Researchers, which included the Harvard astrophysicist, who proposed that ‘Oumuamua’ was a lightsail sent by another civilization, have found out there’s not enough nitrogen to create an object this size.
The length of ‘Oumuamua, which is estimated to be 300-3,000 feet, could vary between 115 feet and 548 feet.
This means it doesn’t likely represent a piece of a Pluto-like exoplanet, which broke apart 400 million year ago.
Harvard researchers refute a March study that claimed that ‘Oumuamua was a nitrogen-iceberg.
It is unlikely that there are enough amounts of nitrogen to create an object this large in the universe. It is unlikely that the object in question was a piece of an exoplanet with a Pluto-like appearance that split off around 400 million years ago. Some have speculated that this could be posturized.
Amir Siraj (study’s researcher) and Avi Loeb (researcher), wrote that the necessary mass of heavy metals exceeds star total with 95% certainty, rendering the scenario impossible because only a very small portion of the stars mass is exo-Plutos.
A number of theories – including that it is a hydrogen iceberg or nitrogen iceberg- have been postulated about the origins or the composition of the oblong cigar-shaped ‘Oumuamua since it was first discovered in October 2017.
Siraj, in an interview with Live Science said that there is no mechanism physical for it not to work. He was speaking about the research done by Steven Desch, Arizona State University astrophysicist, and Alan Jackson.
“And not even error budgets for it to be successful.”
Yale researchers attempted to understand why “Oumuamua” seemed to accelerate in space. They suggested that it might be hydrogen.
Scientists attempt to figure out why the sun’s radiation seemed to be moving faster than it did when it left the solar system.
It was one of the two interstellar objects discovered by scientists.
According to Siraj, the only place where pure nitrogen can be found is Pluto in the solar system.
Loeb told DailyMail.com that this argument stems from a simple mass budget accounting.
Loeb sent an email saying that he had found evidence that the Milky Way does not contain enough nitrogen to support a sufficient number of icebergs, and that this would account for the discovery of Oumuamua.
“Oumuamua” was discovered for the first time in October 2017. It flew at nearly 57,000mph and it is unlikely that it originated in the solar system.
He said, “Even if you accept the best assumptions, there is not enough nitrogen to make enough icebergs for Oumuamua.
“The discrepancy between the two is not minimal, but of orders of magnitude,” especially when you consider cosmic rays evaporation.
The research was published earlier this month in the scientific journal New Astronomy.