Scientists believe they have determined the origin of the extrasolar object Oumuamua. First observed from the Pan-STARRS astronomical observatory in Hawaii, Oumuamua means "scout" or "messenger" in Hawaiian.Oumuamua resembles a comet but is sufficiently different to have sparked intense speculation as to its nature, including that it may be an alien spacecraft.In a pair of papers published in the AGU Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Arizona State University astronomers determined the 45-meter, or 148 foot, object appears to be made of frozen nitrogen, just like the surfaces of Pluto and Neptune's moon, Triton.The astrophysicists think Oumuamua likely ejected from the surface of a Pluto-like exoplanet during a collision half a billion years ago that sent it tumbling out toward our solar system.RUNDOWN SHOWS:1. Oumuamua approaching the Solar System2. Oumuamua similar in composition to surfaces of Pluto and Triton3. Oumuamua likely ejected during a collision half a billion years ago4. Oumuamua after its formation5. Oumuamua speeds up as the Sun vaporizes its surface6. Oumuamua flattens as it passes through the Solar SystemVOICEOVER (in English): "Scientists believe they have determined the origin of the extrasolar object Oumuamua. First observed from the Pan-STARRS astronomical observatory in Hawaii, Oumuamua means 'scout' or 'messenger' in Hawaiian.""Oumuamua resembles a comet but is sufficiently different to have sparked intense speculation as to its nature, including that it may be an alien spacecraft.""In a pair of papers published in the AGU Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Arizona State University astronomers determined the 45-meter, or 148 foot, object appears to be made of frozen nitrogen, just like the surfaces of Pluto and Neptune's moon, Triton.""The astrophysicists think Oumuamua likely ejected from the surface of a Pluto-like exoplanet during a collision half a billion years ago that sent it tumbling out toward our solar system.""Being made of frozen nitrogen explains Oumuamua's weird shape. Like a bar of soap whose outer layers get rubbed off through use, Oumuamua's outer layers would have evaporated by cosmic radiation and, more recently, radiation from our Sun, making it progressively flatter.""Like a comet, Oumuamua sped up as it approached the Sun and sunlight vaporized the ices it is made of. But unlike a comet, these escaping substances do not produce a visible tail." "By looking at the rate at which various ices would sublimate to create this rocket effect, the astronomers concluded that Oumuamua is likely made of nitrogen ice.""When Oumuamua was at its closest approach to Earth, it appeared to have a width six times that of its thickness. By the time the object begins to leave the Solar System around 2040, it will be 10 times as wide as it is thick, the researchers said in an Arizona State University press release."SOURCES: Arizona State University, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planetshttps://phys.org/news/2021-03-scientists-extra-solar-oumuamua.htmlhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JE006706https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JE006807