2I/BORISOV

Sept. 27, 2019

According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the second interstellar object has been officially detected in our solar system.

About:

Name: In 2I/Borisov, I stands for "interstellar", and 2 for being the second interstellar object ever discovered, after 'Oumuamua, which was detected in October 2017. The name Borisov honors its discoverer, Crimean amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov.
Significance: 2I/Borisov is the first observed interstellar comet and second observed interstellar Object, after ʻOumuamua.
Journey: The comet is currently inbound towards the Sun, and will reach its closest approach (perihelion) on December 8 at a distance of 300 million kilometres (190 million miles) - about twice the average distance of Earth from the Sun.
Features: It's between 2 and 16 kilometres in diameter. its chemical composition is similar to the Solar System's long-period comets that originate in the distant Oort Cloud, rather than the short-period comets that come from closer in.