2I/Borisov: An Interstellar Object | 27 Sep 2019

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially declared a recently spotted comet as an interstellar object.

  • This means that the object, provisionally called Comet C/2019, is now dubbed 2I/Borisov, with the prefix marking that the comet is the second interstellar object scientists have identified to date.
  • To confirm Borisov origins, scientists tracked the comet's location long enough to study its path.
    • Objects born in our solar system are trapped in elliptical orbits around the sun while interstellar bodies follow the hyperbolic path.
    • IAU confirmed that 2I/Borisov has a more hyperbolic path than any other comet scientists have studied to date.
  • The name Borisov honours its discoverer, astronomer Gennady Borisov from Crimea.

International Astronomical Union

  • The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919, headquartered in Paris, France.
  • Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation.
  • It is the global authority for naming planetary features in the solar system.

Significance

  • The new finding suggests that such objects may be sufficiently numerous to provide a new way of investigating processes beyond our planetary systems.
  • Investigating interstellar objects can provide unique data about other star systems without actually flying to them.
  • They might provide unique insights into the evolution and composition of other star systems and exoplanets in them.
  • These objects have probably been travelling between star systems for hundreds of years. As a result, they have undoubtedly picked up material along the way or bear the marks of encounters with other objects or forces.
    • Their composition and surface features can tell us about the interstellar medium.

Source: IE