Corey S PowellMar 22, 2023
This is the most convincing explanation I've seen for 'Oumuamua, the interstellar object that accelerated strangely as it flew away from the Sun.
Most likely it was pushed by puffs of invisible hydrogen gas. Sorry -- not aliens! https://news.berkeley.edu/2023/03/22/surprisingly-simple-explanation-for-alien-comet-oumuamuas-weird-orbit/ #comet #interstellar
Surprisingly simple explanation for alien comet ‘Oumuamua’s weird orbit

Six years ago, an interstellar comet whipped around the sun in an orbit that defied explanation. A Berkeley astrochemist now lays out a conclusive scenario for its unusual trajectory.

Berkeley News
Show threadCorey S PowellMar 22, 2023
The new theory about 'Oumuamua is simple and plausible. In interstellar space, water ice breaks down into hydrogen gas. When the comet approached the Sun, pockets of trapped gas escaped and gave it a nudge.
I'm not saying it's not aliens...but it's almost certainly not aliens.
Show threadCorey S PowellMar 22, 2023
Whole books have been written (ahem) about how strange 'Oumuamua was. But so far, astronomers have observed only two interstellar objects moving through the solar system. We don't know what is strange and what is normal.
Show threadCorey S Powell
And 'Oumuamua might not be so strange after all! A new study has identified a population of "dark comets" in our own solar system. They also move on their own, probably also by puffing off invisible gas. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/03/first-known-interstellar-interloper-resembles-dark-comet #DarkComets #astronomy
First known interstellar interloper resembles ‘dark comet’ | Cornell Chronicle

Intensive study of Oumuamua after its 2017 detection helped astronomer Darryl Seligman find potential “dark comets” in our solar system – small bodies that look like asteroids but act like comets.

Cornell Chronicle
Mar 22, 2023 at 5:10pmMoa
Show threadCorey S PowellMar 22, 2023
Bottom line: