4 ms·
The level of coma and other factors are related to how close the comet comes to the sun. Oumuamua came extremely close (about 25% the distance from Earth to the
by rjf72 7y ago
The level of coma and other factors are related to how close the comet comes to the sun. Oumuamua came extremely close (about 25% the distance from Earth to the Sun), and displayed no such characteristics. This is why thought it was originally classified as a comet, it was quickly reclassified as an asteroid. But then it started accelerating which means it's also probably not an asteroid. And on top of this all a comet would also likely have torn itself to pieces accelerating given the shape and tumble of Oumuamua.
It somewhat cleanly refutes every possible classification leaving only the ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ group of celestial bodies.
- russdill 7y agoIt may have been close to the sun, but it was traveling much faster than any other body we would use for comparison.