Understanding Science seminar: "The galactic adventure of the first interstellar asteroid, A/2017 U1 ‘Oumuamua" by Prof. Wing Ip
On January 16, 2018, ISSI-BJ organized an Understanding Science seminar on “The galactic adventure of the first interstellar asteroid, A/2017 U1 Oumuamua”. The lecture was held by Prof. Wing Ip of the National Central University in Taiwan. Prof. Ip is also an AGU Fellow, member of Academia Sinica, co-investigator in Giotto, Galileo, Space 1, Mars Express, Cassini and Rosetta missions, who received NASA distinguished public service medal, Axford prize of AOGS.
Prof. Wing Ip giving the seminar about the asteroid A/2017 U1 'Oumuamua
In his talk, Prof. Wing Ip revealed that the fast transit of the first interstellar asteroid, A/2017 U1 ‘Oumuamua, has brought a lot of attention to this strangely shaped object. According to the follow-up measurements after its discovery by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii in October, 2017, ‘Oumuamua is a highly elongated with the size measured 400mx40m. Such cigar-shaped configuration is very unusual when compared with shapes of small bodies in our own solar system. It might tell us something about its origin even though we do not know yet (might never know) from which star did it come. Already theories on ‘Oumuamua’s origin abound. Some says it was ejected at the birth of an extra-solar system, and some says that happened at the end of its host star. In his interesting talk, Prof. Ip introduced several of these diverse ideas. He also gave the audience an opportunity to imagine what ‘Oumuamua might have seen during its wonderful journey in the vast space of the Milky Way.
Following the talk, the audience, including both Chinese and foreigners, had interesting exchanges with Prof. Ip on this particularly fascinating topic.
