Trajectory class · e ≫ 1

Interstellar Hyperbolic Trajectory

A strongly hyperbolic trajectory — eccentricity well above 1 with a large excess velocity relative to the Sun — that cannot be produced by planetary perturbations. This is the signature of an interstellar object: a body that entered the Solar System already unbound, from another star system, and will leave on the same path. 1I/ʻOumuamua, 2I/Borisov, and 3I/ATLAS all follow such trajectories.

Definition

Eccentricity well above 1 with excess velocity — an unbound, interstellar trajectory.

Objects on this trajectory

1I/ʻOumuamua
Hyperbolic (e ≈ 1.20) — unbound
Confirmed interstellar
2I/Borisov
Hyperbolic (e ≈ 3.36) — unbound
Confirmed interstellar
3I/ATLAS
Hyperbolic (e ≈ 6.1) — the most strongly hyperbolic yet found
Confirmed interstellar

Sources

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

NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics
Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.
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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