35 Million Interstellar Objects Discovered Within Earth's Orbit
A stunning discovery has revealed that roughly 35 million objects of interstellar origin are present within the region of Earth's orbit around the Sun. The finding, discussed by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, vastly exceeds previous estimates of how much material from other star systems passes through our solar neighborhood.
Since the first confirmed interstellar object, 'Oumuamua, was detected in 2017, scientists have been working to understand how common such visitors are. This new estimate of 35 million interstellar objects suggests that material exchange between star systems is far more prevalent than previously thought. The discovery raises intriguing questions about the composition and origins of these objects, and whether some could carry organic molecules or other materials relevant to the study of life's origins.
Since the first confirmed interstellar object, 'Oumuamua, was detected in 2017, scientists have been working to understand how common such visitors are. This new estimate of 35 million interstellar objects suggests that material exchange between star systems is far more prevalent than previously thought. The discovery raises intriguing questions about the composition and origins of these objects, and whether some could carry organic molecules or other materials relevant to the study of life's origins.