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'Oumuamua's near view, based on the recent observations of the

Jan. 23, 2017 by Carolyn Mueller

'Oumuamua's near view, based on the recent observations of the object, indicates that it is moving in a highly elliptical orbit with a slight inclination with respect to our solar system,'' the authors write.

But, the NASA/ESA researchers still don't know for sure. "The closest approach to Earth is the longest, which is a very long distance from our Sun. So if it is moving in a high elliptical orbit, it will be moving more slowly than it normally would have," they write.

What could be causing Oumuamua's unusual orbit ? One theory is that "Oumuamua may be a type of alien spacecraft, a type of alien spacecraft that may have been designed (or constructed) by aliens for use in other worlds or in space colonies around our solar system.''

Oumuamua may be a type of alien spacecraft , a type of alien spacecraft that may have been designed (or constructed) by aliens for use in other worlds or in space colonies around our solar system. ( NASA / JPL / UCLA / EOS )

The other possibility is that the object is a new type of alien spacecraft designed to be sent from Earth in order to avoid detection. A third theory suggests that Oumuamua is a sort of alien spacecraft that may have been designed to carry passengers from Earth, or as a kind of cargo ship, to another world.

Such a possibility is difficult to believe given the fact that Oumuamua has apparently been designed and manufactured by aliens for use in space colonies. "But that is the only explanation we know about Oumuamua's orbit,'' said Dr. Christopher Lee, the principal investigator of the paper.