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

Doctor explains true effects of 'Carrotmaxxing' trend people are doing to 'tan themselves'Getty Stock ImagesEmotional message behind semi-colon tattoo and four others you didn't know the meaning ofThe Washington Post/GettyDoctor issues serious warning over 'most powerful weight loss jab ever' that outperforms Mounjaro and WeGovyGetty StockDeath row inmate's execution called off after botched attempt to take his lifeTennessee Department of Correction

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • The Washington Post/Getty
    8 hours ago

    Emotional message behind semi-colon tattoo and four others you didn't know the meaning of

    The tattoo has a particular meaning for some people

    News
  • Tennessee Department of Correction
    9 hours ago

    Death row inmate's execution called off after botched attempt to take his life

    Even Kim Kardashian has had her say...

    News
  • Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    Singer Jack Avery speaks out after child's mother arrested in alleged plot to murder him

    Influencer Gabriela Gonzalez, 24, is accused of trying to hire a hitman on the dark web over a custody dispute

    News
  • Getty Stock
    10 hours ago

    Doctors explain whether you should megadose on creatine as side effects revealed

    The supplement is popular among people as part of their workout regimen

    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'
  • Mysterious interstellar object tracked by 'alien-hunting spacecraft' as it passes Earth
  • Interstellar object dubbed 'hostile alien threat' by Harvard scientist is travelling at 130,000 MPH