A distant messenger

Interstellar object reminds us of space’s potential

In October 2017, astronomers at the University of Hawaii observed a strange object hurtling through space. Described by its observers as “a red and extremely elongated asteroid,” it turned out to be the first interstellar object ever detected passing through the Solar System. Researchers named it ‘Oumuamua, a Hawaiian word that roughly translates to “first distant messenger.”

Questions have surrounded ‘Oumuamua as no one has been able to say what exactly it is. Theories that it is an asteroid or comet have been disproved. More recently, Avi Loeb, the chair of Harvard’s astronomy department, has thrown out an eyecatching hypothesis: ‘Oumuamua might be a sign of extraterrestrial life.

Mr. Loeb co-wrote a paper raising questions about several strange facts related to ‘Oumuamua. The paper specifically noted the object’s “peculiar acceleration” and oddities in its movement. Mr. Loeb raised the possibility that ‘Oumuamua “may be a fully operational probe sent intentionally to Earth’s vicinity by an alien civilization.” This possibility has predictably stirred up a lot of excitement.

Whatever ‘Oumuamua is or is not, it has captured people’s imaginations and has reminded many of the limitless potential of space. Because its mysteries are so vast and so foreign, exploring and analyzing space remains an important task for humanity. By studying objects like ‘Oumuamua and deciphering their origin and purpose, perhaps we can begin to understand a thing or two about our origin as well.