Detectability of Thermal Emission from Sub-Relativistic Objects
arXiv:2007.04892
Abstract
We calculate the surface temperature and the resulting brightness of sub-relativistic objects moving through the Solar system due to collisional heating by gas and radiative heating by solar radiation. The thermal emission from objects of size m and speed of , can be detected by the upcoming {\it James Webb Space Telescope} out to a distance of au. Future surveys could therefore set interesting limits on the abundance of fast-moving interstellar objects or spacecraft.
4 pages, 2 figures; submitted