Have you ever thought of what lies beyond our solar system? The universe is an unending space, with most of it unexplored. So, it’s naturally mind-boggling to wonder what else might be there.
We now know one thing that is there for sure — meteors. The US military recently confirmed that a small meteor that crashed into Earth in 2014 is actually an interstellar meteor. This means that it came from outside our solar system.
The meteor, roughly the size of a small washing machine, crashed and washed up on the shores of Papua New Guinea eight years ago. Named CNEOS 2014-01-08, the asteroid entered the Earth’s atmosphere at an unusually high speed of over 1,30,000 miles per hour (21,000 kilometers per hour), which sparked interest in it.
According to initial calculations by scientist Amir Siraj at Harvard University, who identified the object, the meteor moved at a speed of 45 kilometers per second in relation to Earth. But because our planet is also moving (at about 30 kilometers per second), the asteroid’s speed may not be accurate. Siraj’s calculations show that the asteroid hit Earth at an actual speed of 60 kilometers per second. He then mapped the trajectory of the asteroid, which showed that it was in an unbound orbit, unlike the closed orbit of other meteors. This proved that it was an object that didn’t come from our solar system.
Siraj and Abraham Loeb, a professor at Harvard University, were studying another interstellar object called Oumuamua, which was found in Hawaii in 2017, when they identified CNEOS 2014-01-0. Up until now, it was widely believed that Oumuamua was the first interstellar object to hit Earth. But upon the identification of CNEOS 2014-01-0, scientists looked up other possible interstellar objects and found that there may have been ones that hit us earlier.
These latest findings were meant to be published in a scientific journal, but the paper was withheld by the US military for security purposes. Additional data to the asteroid’s possible origins are not known as only limited data has been released to the public.
Where do you think the asteroid came from? Let us know in the comments.
Read the latest developments in space in Science Feed:
NASA Launches ‘Suicide Spacecraft’ to Kick Asteroid Away!
Madhavi is passionate about everything to do with books, art, literature, films, trivia and food. A former journalist, she believes that asking questions makes life interesting.
Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.
Meet Sourabh who has a ton to say about his BYJU`S learning experience. His love for quizzes, games and other fun activities are paying off!
V Shriya is a class eight student who has been using BYJU’S for a year now. She shares her experiences with using the app and how it has helped her in improving her academic performance.
Aanvi from class 9 has been with BYJU`S for just 6 months and hear what she has to say about her learning experience with the app.
Comments
Kiruthika s
May 31, 2022
of it unexplored. So, it’s naturally mind-boggling to wonder what else might be there.
N Gopika
May 31, 2022
Asteroids are left over from the formation of our solar system. Our solar system began about 3.6 billion years ago when a big cloud of gas and dust collapsed. When this happened, most of the material fell to the center of the cloud and formed the sun.
Some of the condensing dust in the cloud became planets. The objects in the asteroid never had the chance to be incorporated into planets. They are leftovers from that time long ago when planets formed.
Syed basheer ahmed
May 24, 2022
I would say it came far away from our orbit it could have travelled from other orbit
J V Bavitha
May 21, 2022
Hi ! I think the asteroid came from outside our solar system .. probably got hitted by a star.
Aswini
May 20, 2022
I think the asteroids nwould have come from the particles of the broken planets.
Amrutha varshini
May 20, 2022
Astroids is the minor planet of inner solar system It is rocky bodies .the size will be vary in difffernt size.it came from out of our solar system .
Samyuktha Vijai
May 18, 2022
Since this is an interstellar meteor/asteroid, it is not from the astroid belt. That leaves the universe. But, this object couldn’t have been so far. My prediction is that this meteor/asteroid came within the Milky Way and within another solar system, where life might be possible.
Poonguzhali
May 17, 2022
Most asteroids don’t come near the earth .
Asteroids are left over from the formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago .
Rajender
May 16, 2022
This means that it came from outside our solar system.
Harsha vithula
May 6, 2022
All asteroids come from only the solar system. I have read that there is a asteroid belt between mats and Jupiter so i think it comes from there .