Interstellar Object

An interstellar object is an astronomical object in interstellar space that is not gravitationally bound to a star. This term can also be applied to an object that is on an interstellar trajectory but is temporarily passing close to a star, such as certain asteroids and comets. In the latter case, the object may be called an interstellar interloper. The first interstellar objects discovered were rogue planets, planets ejected from their original stellar system, though they are difficult to distinguish from sub-brown dwarfs, planet-mass objects that formed in interstellar space as stars do. The first interstellar object which was discovered traveling through our Solar System was 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017. The second was 2I/Borisov in 2019. They both possess significant hyperbolic excess velocity, indicating they did not originate in the Solar System. Earlier, in 2014, an interstellar object impacted the Earth, as confirmed by the U.S. Space Command in 2022 based on the object's velocity.

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Everything We Know About the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

3I/Atlas: Mystery interstellar object could be the oldest known comet

3I/Atlas: Mystery interstellar object could be the oldest known comet - BBC News

Inbound: Astronomers Discover Third Interstellar Object

Third Interstellar Object, Comet 3I/ATLAS, Is Traveling Through Solar System

Astronomers Discover Third-Ever Interstellar Object: 3I/ATLAS

Astronomers may have found a third interstellar object

Was 'Oumuamua, the First Known Interstellar Object, Less Weird Than We Thought?

Astronomers Offer New Explanation for Interstellar Object Oumuamua’s Unusual Acceleration

Scientists think they know why interstellar object 'Oumuamua moved so strangely

Explaining the Odd Behavior of Interstellar Object 'Oumuamua - Sky & Telescope - Sky & Telescope

Was Interstellar Object `Oumuamua a Chunk of Exo-Pluto?

Scientists Are Drawing Up Plans to Intercept an Interstellar Object

We’ll Inevitably see Another Interstellar Object. Which Ones Make the Best Targets to Visit?

Meteorite analyzed by Amir Siraj (age 22) officially shown to be first interstellar object ever detected, predating 'Oumuamua.

An Interstellar Object May Have Struck Earth. Scientists Plan to Search The Ocean

ESA Comet Interceptor Could Snag an Interstellar Object

Declassified Government Data Reveal an Interstellar Object Exploded in The Sky in 2014

An interstellar object exploded over Earth in 2014, declassified government data reveal

An interstellar object exploded over Earth in 2014, declassified government data reveal