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arxiv: 1802.02273 · v1 · pith:2H56CL3Cnew · submitted 2018-02-07 · 🌌 astro-ph.EP · astro-ph.HE

Why is Interstellar Object 1I/2017 U1 (`Oumuamua) Rocky, Tumbling and Very Prolate?

classification 🌌 astro-ph.EP astro-ph.HE
keywords objectfirstoumuamuavolatilesaxialdensitydiscoveredinferred
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The recently discovered first interstellar object 1I/2017 U1 (`Oumuamua) has brightness that varies by a factor of 10, a range greater than that of any Solar System asteroid, a spectrum characteristic of Type D asteroids, and no evidence of evaporating volatiles, contrary to expectation for exo-Oort clouds. This object was the first example of the proposed "Jurads", objects depleted in volatiles and ejected from planetary systems during the post-main sequence evolution of their parent star. I suggest that heating by the star's giant stage fluidized a precursor cometary object as volatiles escaped, causing it to assume the Jacobi ellipsoidal shape of a self-gravitating incompressible liquid. The collision that produced the inferred tumbling motion must have occurred thousands of years after the formation of 1I/2017 U1 `Oumuamua. Jacobi ellipsoids have a unique relation among rotation rate, density and axial ratio. The inferred axial ratio $\gtrapprox 5$ implies a lower bound on the density of 1.6 g/cm$^3$, excluding an icy interior unless it is almost entirely frozen CO$_2$. This object is the first Jurad to be discovered and may be related to accreting objects that pollute white dwarf atmospheres and may make Soft Gamma Repeaters.

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Cited by 1 Pith paper

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. The Natural History of 'Oumuamua

    astro-ph.EP 2019-07 unverdicted novelty 1.0

    A review finds all available observations of 'Oumuamua consistent with natural processes from Solar System minor bodies and planetary evolution.