Detection method

Spectroscopic Composition Analysis

Taking spectra and colours of a visitor to characterise its surface or coma chemistry and compare it with Solar-System comets and asteroids. Spectroscopy does not by itself prove an interstellar origin — the orbit does that — but it reveals what a body from another planetary system is made of, as with the carbon-monoxide-rich coma of 2I/Borisov.

In brief

Comparing the light (spectra, colours) of a visitor with Solar-System bodies to characterise its composition.

Objects identified this way

2I/BorisovConfirmed interstellar
3I/ATLASConfirmed interstellar

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

ESOEuropean Southern Observatory
Southern-hemisphere observatory data and imagery (VLT, ALMA partner).
NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
NASA ADSNASA Astrophysics Data System
Bibliographic index of peer-reviewed astronomy and astrophysics literature.

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