Capture of interstellar objects: a source of long-period comets

Abstract

We simulate the passage through the Sun-Jupiter system of interstellar objects (ISOs) similar to 1I/`Oumuamua or 2I/Borisov. Capture of such objects is rare and overwhelmingly from low incoming speeds onto orbits akin to those of known long-period comets. This suggests that some of these comets could be of extra-solar origin, in particular inactive ones. Assuming ISOs follow the local stellar velocity distribution, we infer a volume capture rate of $0.051{\mathrm{au}}^3{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1}$. Current estimates for orbital lifetimes and space densities then imply steady-state captured populations of $\sim 10^2$ comets and $\sim 10^5$ `Oumuamua-like rocks, of which 0.033% are within 6au at any time.

arXiv comment5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (23)

• Distances and parallax bias in Gaia DR2
• An Observational Upper Limit on the Interstellar Number Density of Asteroids and Comets
• Interstellar Interlopers: Number Density and Origins of 'Oumuamua-like Objects
• The Natural History of 'Oumuamua
• Spitzer Observations of Interstellar Object 1I/`Oumuamua
• Detection of CN gas in Interstellar Object 2I/Borisov
• Origin and evolution of long-period comets
• The origin of interstellar asteroidal objects like 1I/2017 U1 'Oumuamua
• The Peculiar Volatile Composition of CO-Dominated Comet C/2016 R2 (PanSTARRS)
• Implications of the interstellar object 1I/'Oumuamua for planetary dynamics and planetesimal formation
• The fate of planetesimal discs in young open clusters: implications for 1I/'Oumuamua, the Kuiper belt, the Oort cloud and more
• Jupiter - friend or foe? III: the Oort cloud comets
• An interstellar origin for Jupiter's retrograde co-orbital asteroid
• Interstellar object 'Oumuamua as an extinct fragment of an ejected cometary planetesimal
• Strong CO${}^{+}$ and N${}_2^{+}$ Emission in Comet C/2016 R2 (Pan-STARRS)
• Producing Distant Planets by Mutual Scattering of Planetary Embryos
• Spin Evolution and Cometary Interpretation of the Interstellar Minor Object 1I/2017 'Oumuamua
• Capture of exocomets and the erosion of the Oort cloud due to stellar encounters in the Galaxy
• Identifying Interstellar Objects Trapped in the Solar System through Their Orbital Parameters
• Where the Solar system meets the solar neighbourhood: patterns in the distribution of radiants of observed hyperbolic minor bodies
• A hypothesis for the rapid formation of planets
• Implications of Captured Interstellar Objects for Panspermia and Extraterrestrial Life
• Planet seeding through gas-assisted capture of interstellar objects

Cited by in corpus (13)

• No evidence for interstellar planetesimals trapped in the Solar System
• Oort cloud Ecology II: The chronology of the formation of the Oort cloud
• Transfer of Rocks between Planetary Systems: Panspermia Revisited
• Concepts for future missions to search for technosignatures
• Interstellar Now! Missions to and Sample Returns from Nearby Interstellar Objects
• A halo of trapped interstellar matter surrounding the solar system
• Capture of interstellar objects I: the capture cross-section
• Capture of interstellar objects II: by the Solar system
• Ionic emissions in comet C/2016 R2 (Pan-STARRS)
• The New Astronomical Frontier of Interstellar Objects
• Great comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS): dust loss before perihelion
• Activity of the Jupiter co-orbital comet P/2019~LD${}_2$ (ATLAS) observed with OSIRIS at the 10.4 m GTC
• Close Encounters of the Interstellar Kind: Examining the Capture of Interstellar Objects in Near Earth Orbit