ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Videos
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Declassified Documents Reveal An Alien 'Interstellar Object' Slammed Into Earth In 2014
Home>News
Published 03:21 13 Apr 2022 GMT+1

Declassified Documents Reveal An Alien 'Interstellar Object' Slammed Into Earth In 2014

The newly released findings make a space rock that struck Earth in 2014 the first object to come from outside the Solar system.

Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Scientists have confirmed a meteor that hit Earth in 2014 came from another solar system, making it the first known interstellar object to make its way to our planet.

The interstellar object, known as Oumuamua, was discovered five years ago.

The US Space Command released a memo confirming the new discovery, explaining that the rocky body that measured 0.45 metres across ‘was indeed an interstellar object’.

NASA says the meteor lit up skies near Manus Island, Papua New Guinea on January 8, 2014, and had travelled at more than 160,000 kilometres per hour.

6/ “I had the pleasure of signing a memo with @ussfspoc’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Mozer, to confirm that a previously-detected interstellar object was indeed an interstellar object, a confirmation that assisted the broader astronomical community.” pic.twitter.com/PGlIOnCSrW

— U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) April 7, 2022

Scientists are still searching the South Pacific Ocean to find debris and more about the object’s origin.

Advert

At a Space Foundation panel on Planetary Defense, Lt. Gen. John Shaw confirmed the updated classification of the rock.

He said: “I had the pleasure of signing a memo with US Space Operations Command’s Chief Scientist, Dr Mozer, to confirm that a previously-detected interstellar object was indeed an interstellar object, a confirmation that assisted the broader astronomical community.”

The memo read that Dr Mozer ‘reviewed analysis of additional data available to the Department of Defense related to the final’.

Additionally, it said: “Dr Mozer confirmed that the velocity estimate reported to NASA is sufficiently accurate to indicate an interstellar trajectory.”

The study was conducted by Harvard astronomers Amir Siraj and Abraham Loeb, who wrote the paper in 2019 to make the case for the rock’s extrasolar origin. 

Oumuama Asteroid /
Philipp Nedomlel / Alamy.

According to Vice, the paper was unable to be published in a peer-reviewed journal due to its reliance on some sensors used in the US Department of Defense. 

Following the discovery of the Oumumua asteroid, the pair of astronomers looked through historical data from NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studied (CNEOS) for evidence of similar meteors that could have come from outside the solar system. 

That lead them to the rock found near Papua New Guinea in January 2014.

After doing their research and crunching their numbers they had concluded that ‘with 99.999% confidence that the 2014-01-08 meteor was interstellar.’

However, the margin error wasn’t enough to get their paper published. 

With the memo now signed by Dr Mozer and Lt. Gen. Shaw, this paper could be on its way to publication.  

Featured Image Credit: Alamy. Netflix

Topics: Space, NASA, Science

Jayden Collins
Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins is a Journalist at LADbible. He has worked across multiple media platforms in areas such as sport, music, pop culture, entertainment and politics. He is part of the editorial team for LADbible Australia.

Recommended reads

Ali G makes surprise return at Wimbledon as Sacha Baron Cohen revives iconic characterX/@thetennisletterWimbledon winner Jannik Sinner loses half of his prize money after beating Alexander ZverevVisionhaus/Getty ImagesExperts warn parts of the UK are at 'exceptional' risk of wildfires as the heatwave continuesBrook Mitchell/Getty ImagesNew study reveals creatine has unexpected positive side effect on healthGetty Stock Photo

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • Visionhaus/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Wimbledon winner Jannik Sinner loses half of his prize money after beating Alexander Zverev

    Jannik Sinner has won the Wimbledon male's final but won't be keeping all his millions in winnings

    News
  • Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Experts warn parts of the UK are at 'exceptional' risk of wildfires as the heatwave continues

    Firefighters are currently tackling a blaze in North Wales as experts warn of a greater risk in the coming days

    News
  • Getty Stock Photo
    8 hours ago

    New study reveals creatine has unexpected positive side effect on health

    Further tests would be needed but it could supplement the existing treatment

    News
  • Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    Eye-watering net worths of England squad WAGs as team head to semi-finals

    Behind every great man...

    News
  • Scientists reveal where 'alien object' heading past Earth will actually be going
  • 'Potentially hostile alien threat' pictured as interstellar object officially declared a 'threat'
  • Ex-White House scientist tells NASA to use Moon as holding pen for alien life or endanger Earth
  • Mysterious interstellar object tracked by 'alien-hunting spacecraft' as it passes Earth