Light curve of interstellar asteroid `Oumuamua

This plot shows how the interstellar asteroid `Oumuamua varied in brightness during three days in October 2017. The large range of brightness — about a factor of ten (2.5 magnitudes) — is due to the very elongated shape of this unique object, which rotates every 7.3 hours. The different coloured dots represent measurements through different filters, covering the visible and near-infrared part of the spectrum. The dotted line shows the light curve expected if `Oumuamua were an ellipsoid with a 1:10 aspect ratio, the deviations from this line are probably due to irregularities in the object's shape or surface albedo.

Credit:

ESO/K. Meech et al.

About the Image

Id:eso1737f
Type:Chart
Release date:20 November 2017, 17:00
Related releases:eso1737
Size:3982 x 868 px

About the Object

Name:1I/2017 U1 (‘Oumuamua)
Type:Milky Way : Interplanetary Body : Asteroid
Category:Illustrations

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