October 2017. Reports sighting of an observatory in Hawaii (United States) Mysterious object That across us Solar System To one Speed About four times Asteroid. The object follows a hyperbolic trajectory that indicates Astronomer It comes from elsewhere. Its baptism is 1I / 2017 U1. And quickly nicknamed ‘Oumuamua, Understand “Guest”, “messenger”. It arouses all curiosities. “Oumuamua amazes scientists”, Then title NASA. Because it’s so long ago Interstellar object Close to the Earth is also celebrated. But also because it surprisingly presents a certain number of surprising features.

Comets, asteroids, pieces of celestial bodies. For months, all beliefs about its nature have been placed on the table. Including the craziest of all: the alien ship! Endorsed a hypothesis – by Abraham Loeb, chairman of the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University (United States) – against and against almost all. ” Scientific method Encourages caution. We make a hypothesis, gather evidence and test that hypothesis. We then refine the hypothesis or gather more evidence. But fashion can discourage the idea of ​​certain beliefs and careerism can direct attention and resources towards certain subjects and distance them from others. “, He explains.

“Personally, I believe that Oumuamua is proof that there are or are Sensitive civilizations Other than usUniverse. And I would like the community to agree to give my theory as much credit as they give to the hypothesis Supersymmetry Or multiverse. But I also believe that humanity is not willing to believe that we are not unique. “

Oumuamua, a strangely shaped interstitial object

But on what basis does AV Loeb base his hypothesis? On some of the singularities noted by researchers studying the interstellar object. Its shape first. “We have no clear image of the object. Data from observation of only eleven days – Before the object goes too far away from the Earth – By many telescopesSays Avi Loeb. They show that shine First Varies by a factor of ten every eight hours. “ What concludes is that the object is longer than it is wide. Some previously spoke of cigar size. Then transferred the data, statistically much more likely, to some form of disk.

“Anyway, we have never seen in nature, such a flat and / or elongated objectAssures us Avi Loeb. And this does not refer to the fact that ‘Oumuamua was also at least ten times faster than any asteroid or Comet Same size. “ Several explanations have been put forward.

A trajectory that defies the laws of physics

“If only this had happened, I would have gone ahead”Says Avi Loeb. But there was alsoDiscrepancy The trajectory that appears in the data collected by astronomers. According to a Harvard University researcher, this is « Breathtaking ». Law of Body Allow us to predict the trajectory of an objectGravitational effect Of A type of plant. But expected Oumuamua did not behave as expected. “ Remote from us Star, He pushed himself by a mysterious force. “It also happens for comets. One type of “rocket engine” effect is that they are due to their long tail of evaporated ice. “

To this effect Rocket Explaining the deviation of the trajectory of ‘Oumuamua’, the object would have lost one-tenth of it The mass. However, by scanning the surrounding location, astronomers found no trace of water, Gas Or dust.

Other hypotheses have been put forward. The first, which collides with another object. But the data did not match. Then the iceInterstellar object Was specially composedHydrogen. But this idea did not last long. Acted upon Pressure Radiation from the Sun was also investigated. But it would involve an incredibly low mass density. Only 1% ofWind On the surface of the Earth. This is enough to make Oumuamua the most porous object ever in our solar system.

‘Oumuamua, a foreign vessel?

“To me, ‘Oumuamua is unlike anything in the universe that we know would have been designed, built and launched wisdom Supernatural. Perhaps a veil is floating in space. A communication buoy. Or a piece of debris left by a civilization other than ours, Avi Avi Loeb. I know it’s a hypothesis Foreigner. But other hypotheses have been put forward to explain these special features, which are no longer deficient. No one can really explain the trajectory of ‘Oumuamua’. And yet, the object went astray “Do not hesitate to launch the researcher in the eyelideye On Galileo.

“Be it, let’s be clear. I’m not one of the fans Light Of Spotlight. I’m not “nervous about Astroturf”. I am just asking myself questions. By trying not to let myself get overwhelmed by prejudices. “