1991 VG
1991 VG is a Near-Earth object discovered by James Scotti. Due to its unusual orbit and rapid variation in brightness, it might be alien in origin. [1]
Unnatural Orbit
On November 6, 1991, Scotti discovered an object, about 10 meters in size, now known as 1991 VG.[2] The object's heliocentric orbit was found to be very similar to Earth's orbit[3] and it was found that it would make a close approach to Earth just a month after discovery. Given such an Earth-like orbit, the dynamical lifetime of such an object is relatively short with the object quickly either impacting Earth or being perturbed by Earth onto a different orbit. The similarity of its orbit with Earth is also very difficult to explain from natural sources, with ejecta from a recent Lunar impact or non-gravitational perturbations such as the Yarkovsky effect having been suggested. Also, the small perigee distance might indicate a controlled rather than a random orbit. [4]
Possible alien origin
The uncertainty of the object's origin, combined with rapid variation in the object's brightness in images obtained during its close passage with Earth in early December 1991, led some to argue that 1991 VG might be artificial in origin, possibly an extraterrestrial object such as a Bracewell probe, because its characteristics and orbital path seemed to rule out known space junk launched from Earth.[5]
Future approaches
1991 VG has absolute magnitude H=28.5 which would correspond to an asteroid between about 6 and 12 meters diameter and it is therefore far too faint for further study, apart from during close approaches to Earth. It will make another close approach to earth in 2017. [6]
See Also
External links
References
- ^ Steel, D. (1995). "SETA and 1991 VG". The Observatory. 115: 78–83. Bibcode:1995Obs...115...78S.
- ^ satobs.org: James Scotti, Re: What is 1991 VG?
- ^ jpl.nasa.gov, 1991 VG Earth Impact Risk Summary
- ^ http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1995Obs...115...78S&data_type=PDF_HIGH&whole_paper=YES&type=PRINTER&filetype=.pdf
- ^ Steel, D. (1995). "SETA and 1991 VG". The Observatory. 115: 78–83. Bibcode:1995Obs...115...78S.
- ^ http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=1991+VG;orb=1