An asteroid that visited us from interstellar space is one of the most elongated cosmic objects known to science, a study has shown.
Discovered on 19 October, the object’s speed and trajectory strongly suggested it originated in a planetary system around another star.
Astronomers have been scrambling to observe the unique space rock, known as ‘Oumuamua, before it fades from view.
Their results so far suggest it is at least 10 times longer than it is wide, BBC News reports, citing the study.
That ratio is more extreme than that of any asteroid or comet ever observed in our Solar System.
