Hi Al,
Yes, I've heard several things (mostly from Kerry Cassidy), as well as what's been made available in the science press. Harvard Professor Avi Loeb produced a controversial and (as he admits) highly speculative paper on this object back in July:
Loeb recently said that his M.O. here is to generate alternative thinking, essentially to shake up mainstream science's unquestioning approach.
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Nasa dismisses theory by Harvard astronomer who suggested an object from beyond the solar system could be a relic from a distant civilization
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That said, it has surprised me how little there is out there in the press about this object. It's only the 3rd identified interstellar comet and, like the second one 2I Borisov (which was pretty weird), it is already a little quirky compared to
regular solar system comets. It's developed a tail and there are some images kicking around, with the promise of more to come as it comes in view of some more powerful telescopes. Does make me wonder whether there's some caution and hesitation going on until
the real picture is clearer.
The problem with identifying what kind of object it might be is that trajectories of comets can change as they warm, causing outgassing and thus natural propulsion, so adjustments to its projected hyperbolic path are to be expected. Of course, if this thing
makes/has made a handbrake turn or something similar, then that's really news.
Many thanks,
Andy Lloyd
BSc(Hons) PGCE PGCAP HEA RGN