Adam Hibberd
- In 2017, an interstellar object was discovered, the first ever to be detected.
- It was observed by the Hawaiian observatory Pan-STARRS, subsequently studied by many telescopes before disappearing into the distance in January 2018.
- An estimate on the number density, N (how many per unit volume), in interstellar space was determined based on the volume of space Pan-STARRS had scanned before it finally detected 'Oumuamua.
- N turns out as 0.2 per cubic Astronomical Unit (au), where an au is the distance between the Sun and Earth.
- It should be noted that this number density, N, is very much an UPPER BOUND, as we don't know how much 'Oumuamua's discovery was simply POT LUCK. It is FAR MORE likely that there are many fewer 'Oumuamua's than this number suggests.
- Look what has happened since - absolutely NO further 'Oumuamuas have been discovered, supporting (5) above.
- Project Lyra has come to the rescue of scientists as it has determined VIABLE missions to 'Oumuamua in the late '20s and early '30s.
- We do not have to take the risk of another 'Oumuamua NOT arriving - we have an 'Oumuamua - only one so far, despite the apparently high value of N above.
- In my view, whatever 'Oumuamua is, it is not like anything we have seen before
- Project Lyra would reveal all about 'Oumuamua, the scientific return would be invaluable, and the mystery would be resolved.