Scientists have found interstellar material in our solar system, sparking curiosity about its origins. A fresh study by researchers Cole Gregg and Paul Wiegert from Western University suggests that Alpha Centauri, our closest neighboring solar system, could be a key source of these intriguing objects.
This research was published on March 6 in The Planetary Science Journal.
Interstellar objects, like asteroids and comets, float through space without being attached to any star. They may get ejected from their home systems due to collisions or pulled away by the gravitational gravity of planets or stars.
Gregg, a Ph.D. candidate, created a computer model to explore how material moves between our solar system and Alpha Centauri. He looked at how gases, dust, and other space matter travel through the galaxy. By applying the same physics of our solar system to Alpha Centauri—which has three suns—he could mimic how objects might be ejected from that system.
“Giant planets can stir up chaos in space,” Gregg explained. “They may alter orbits and boost the speeds of nearby objects, allowing them to break free from their star’s gravitational grip.” He estimated how many comets and asteroids could be leaving Alpha Centauri by simulating different scenarios.
If their theory holds true, Gregg and Wiegert estimate that around one million interstellar objects over 100 meters wide could be originating from Alpha Centauri. Many of these could already be in the Oort Cloud, which is a shell of icy bodies surrounding our solar system. As Alpha Centauri comes closer to us—expected in about 28,000 years—this number could keep increasing.
“If Alpha Centauri is indeed ejecting material, it’s likely some of it reaches us,” Wiegert noted. He has extensive experience in discovering near-Earth objects, including over 80 minor planets.
Interestingly, the first known interstellar object, called ʻOumuamua, was identified by Robert Weryk from Western University in 2017. This small, elongated object is believed to be between 100 and 1,000 meters in length, making it a fascinating study in the realm of cosmic exploration.
Additionally, the model forecasts that Alpha Centauri may send around 10 tiny meteors toward Earth each year. However, these meteors would be less than 100 micrometers in size, posing no threat to us. “Even if they exist, they’re just a tiny fraction of all the space objects out there,” Wiegert reassured.
In reality, according to their findings, only about one in a trillion meteors that land on Earth might come from Alpha Centauri.
Throughout astronomy’s history, we’ve moved from seeing the Earth as the center of everything to recognizing our position within the Milky Way. “Our galaxy isn’t just a bunch of isolated star systems. It functions as a connected network, sharing materials and objects among the stars,” Gregg emphasized.
For more detailed insights on this topic, you can refer to the research published in The Planetary Science Journal: DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/adb1e9.
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