Massive object heading our way: 10 things you need to know

A huge interstellar object is on its way towards us.

Astronomers made the most exciting discovery recently in the scientific and astronomical communities - a trans-Neptunian object that could be the biggest ever found in the Oort Cloud, a mysterious and distant region of our solar system. This is an object known as 2014 UN271, which has astonishing dimensions with a diameter that could range between 130 to 370 kilometers. This object is also headed to the inner part of our solar system and will pass in between Uranus and Saturn at its closest point towards the Sun in early 2031. We will share everything you want to know about this amazing discovery and what it would mean for our understanding of the solar system.

1. Discovery in DES data

According to other sources, the discovery of 2014 UN271 is credited to astronomers Gary Bernstein and Pedro Bernardinelli, who worked out very elaborate details in the DES database-the archive of sky photographs obtained in the time interval from 2014 to 2018. There, they first caught traces of the enormous body.

2. Long detection process

When discovered in 2014, the object was at an approximate distance of 29 astronomical units from Earth. Since it takes some time to thoroughly check DES data for trans-Neptunian objects, the discovery remained unannounced till June 19, 2021, when years of scrutiny and confirmation finally by scientists had passed .

3. An Interesting Orbit

The orbit of 2014 UN271 is uniquely and mysteriously in itself. It has an eccentricity of 0.99 and is inclined at 95.4 degrees to the ecliptic plane. The orbits of nearly all the objects in our solar system are nowhere near this orbit. The previous barycentric aphelion of this object is 39,400 astronomical units from the Sun.

4. Orbit toward the Sun

The most exciting part of this discovery is that 2014 UN271 is going to almost touch the Sun. Its perihelion is about 10.5 astronomical units, and it will become one in the first months of 2031. Astronomers have observed that this tiny planet takes about an orbital period around the Sun of approximately 600,000 years.

5. Quite Big Size

The most interesting thing in 2014 UN271 is its size. Scientists estimate that this object, with an absolute magnitude of 7.87 and an albedo value estimated to be 0.01–0.08, had a diameter between 130 and 370 km. Which makes it probably a dwarf planet or a trans-Neptunian object comparable to the nucleus of comet C/1729 P1.

6. A Comet?

Although no coma-like signs are seen around the object from 2014 to 2018, scientists believe that 2014 UN271 could show signs of cometary activity in the next few years as it nears the Sun. That would be a marvelous thing to observe in the coming years.

7. Not easily visible to the naked eye

But despite this object's exciting size and its unusual orbit, we shouldn't forget that 2014 UN271 will still be at a very distant distance from Earth. It won't be visible to the naked eye at its closest, and it is only clearly visible with powerful telescopes. Amateur astronomers will have to wait until it is closer in order to study it in greater detail.

8. Upcoming Observations

In summary, scientists should closely wait to observe 2014 UN271 once close to the Sun. Being expected to be not quite bright; coming with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, experts will have an enormous opportunity to obtain some precious data on this mystical visitor of Oort Cloud.

9. Yet more discoveries

In the case of the DES survey, the researchers have ensured to provide a full new catalogue of trans-Neptunian objects discovered within the first four years of observations made using this 2014 UN271. This means that for many years to come, we shall witness incredible discoveries and more detail about the objects that dominate the farthest reaches of our solar system.

Conclusion

Finally, there's a summary in the brief statement: 2014 UN271 is one of the most exciting astronomy discoveries in history. Because this huge and mystic object gives scientists an opportunity to study parts of our solar system which as yet is little-known, its discovery is of real interest. It will not be visible to the naked eye; however, technological advancement and super-specialized telescopes will help us acquire important data about it in the coming years. We'll pay special attention to new research and discoveries in the Oort Cloud, so that will help us know much better and unlock its secrets on the formation and evolution of our solar system.