Isaac Scientific Publishing

Advances in Astrophysics

Size and Albedo of the Object of Interstellar Origin A/2017U1

Download PDF (339.2 KB) PP. 47 - 49 Pub. Date: May 8, 2018

DOI: 10.22606/adap.2018.32001

Author(s)

  • N.Chandra Wickramasinghe*
    Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
  • Janaki T. Wickramasinghe
    Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
  • Daryl H. Wallis
    Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astrobiology, Gifu, Japan

Abstract

The interstellar object A/2017U1 has been reported to possess a highly elongated shape with a characteristic average radius of 102m. We argue that the evolution of an organic-rich cometary surface in interstellar space could lead to the formation of an aerogel-like surface with an albedo of 0.0005 leading to a more realistic characteristic dimension of ~1000m.

Keywords

Comets, albedo, size

References

[1] Meech, K.J., Weryk, R., Micheli, M. et al., (2017). Discovery and characterisation of the first known interstellarobject, Nature, November 2017

[2] Wickramasinghe, N.C. et al. (2018) “Oumuamua (A/2017U1)-A Confirmation of Links between GalacticPlanetary Systems,” Advances in Astrophysics, 3(1): 43-46.

[3] Wickramasinghe, J.T., Wickramasinghe, N.C. and Napier, W.M., (2013) Comets and the Origin of Life (WorldScientific Press)

[4] Wickramasinghe, J.T., (2007). The role of comets in panspermia (Cardiff University PhD thesis)

[5] Rietmeijer, F. J. M., (2002). In: E. Murad and I.P. Williams, eds. Meteors in the Earth’s Atmosphere. Cambridge:Cambridge Univ. Press, pp. 215.

[6] Bohren, C. F., Wickramasinghe, N. C., (1977). On the computation of optical properties of heterogeneous grains.Astrophys. and Space Sci., 50, pp. 461-472.

[7] Nelson, R.M., Soderblom, L.A., Hapke, B.W. (2004) Are the circular dark features on Comet Borrelly’s surfacealbedo variations or pits? Icarus, 167, 37.