Turning up the heat on `Oumuamua

Abstract

We explore what may be learned by close encounters between extrasolar minor bodies like `Oumuamua and the Sun. These encounters may yield strong constraints on the bulk composition and possible origin of `Oumuamua-like objects. We find that such objects collide with the Sun once every 30 years, while about 2 pass within the orbit of Mercury each year. We identify preferred orientations for the orbits of extrasolar objects and point out known Solar System bodies with these orientations. We conclude using a simple Bayesian analysis that about one of these objects is extrasolar in origin, even if we cannot tell which.

arXiv commentSubmitted to ApJL

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• From a Different Star: 3I/ATLAS in the context of the Ōtautahi-Oxford interstellar object population model
• On the Possibility of an Artificial Origin for `Oumuamua
• The Galactic Interstellar Object Population: A Framework for Prediction and Inference
• Predicting Interstellar Object Chemodynamics with Gaia