Researchers from the Galileo Project team have released an update on their analysis of the remains of interstellar meteor IM1. Previous claims suggesting the meteor was composed of coal ash have been disproven. The analysis of the IM1 trajectory indicated an interstellar origin, and the US Space Command has certified a 99.999% likelihood of its interstellar nature. The meteor arrived with a velocity of over 45 kilometers per second and originated from outside the plane of the ecliptic.
The object broke apart at a lower altitude than usual and was significantly stronger than any other objects in NASA’s catalog of fireballs. The analysis suggests that approximately 500 kilograms of material were ablated by the fireball, forming ablation spherules. These spherules can be divided into three compositional types: silicate-rich spherules, Fe-rich spherules, and glassy spherules.
Further investigation revealed that 78% of the spherules fell into the categories of primitive, differentiated, and S-type spherules. The remaining 22% were labeled D-type spherules and were likely derived from crustal rocks of a differentiated planet. The team compared the composition of the spherules to coal ash and found significant differences in the abundance of certain elements, making the claims of a coal ash composition invalid.
The Avi Loeb Galileo Team is currently developing tools to find larger pieces of the interstellar meteor, IM1. In parallel, they continue to analyze the retrieved spherules, including isotopes that could help determine the age of the material. The discovery of small melted pieces of the meteor with significantly higher levels of beryllium, lanthanum, and uranium than solar-system rocks raises the question of whether IM1 was of natural or technological origin.
If natural, the unique composition of the IM1 spherules could be attributed to a planet with a magma ocean and an iron core, where elements with affinity to iron sank towards the core while others remained in the planet’s crust. On the other hand, if the meteor was of technological origin, the enhanced abundance of heavy elements could be a result of nanotech fabrication or the use of uranium in fission reactors.
Radioactive isotopes within the spherules could serve as clocks, aiding in determining the duration of interstellar journeys. The team will also utilize artificial intelligence to simulate the properties of alloys based on the elements found. By mapping where the excess IM1 spherules were located relative to the background material, researchers can forecast where larger pieces of the meteor may have landed.
The findings of the Galileo Project team have attracted attention, with arXiv administrators highlighting their research through a dedicated video. The team’s ongoing analysis and search for larger pieces of IM1 aim to shed light on the nature and origins of this interstellar meteor. As they continue their investigations, the scientific community eagerly awaits further updates and insights into this fascinating extraterrestrial phenomenon.
