TED2018
Karen J. Meech: The story of 'Oumuamua, the first visitor from another star system
凯伦 J · 梅赫: 奥陌陌，第一位来自其他星系的客人
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2017年10月，太空生物学家凯伦 J · 梅赫接到了一个电话，那是每个天文学家都在等待的电话：美国国家航空航天局（NASA）定位了首位来自其他星系的访客。一颗跨越星际的彗星——长800米，最终被命名为奥陌陌，在夏威夷语中是“侦查员”或者“信使”的意思——带来了一系列有趣的问题：它是新星系形成时的岩石残骸，还是被超新星爆炸撕裂的物质，或者是外星科技存在的证据，又或者完全是另外的东西？在这次引人入胜的演讲中，梅赫讲述了她的团队如何与时间赛跑，试图揭开这位远道而来的不速之客的神秘面纱。
Karen J. Meech - Astronomer, astrobiologist
Karen J. Meech is an astronomer who investigates how habitable worlds form and explores the bigger picture of whether there is life elsewhere. Full bio
Karen J. Meech is an astronomer who investigates how habitable worlds form and explores the bigger picture of whether there is life elsewhere. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
NASA's always on the lookout
for possible asteroid collision hazards,
for possible asteroid collision hazards,
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美国航空航天局（NASA）一直在进行
天文观测，以避免小行星碰撞的危险，
天文观测，以避免小行星碰撞的危险，
00:18
so the Pan-STARRS telescope
is scanning the sky every night.
is scanning the sky every night.
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因此泛星计划的望远镜
每晚都在扫描天空。
每晚都在扫描天空。
每天早上，泛星计划的工作人员
都会检查那些候选星体，
都会检查那些候选星体，
00:23
Each morning, candidate objects
are examined by Pan-STARRS staff
are examined by Pan-STARRS staff
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00:27
and usually discovered to be no big deal.
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通常的结果都是：没有问题。
00:30
But on October 19, 2017,
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但是2017年的10月19日，
00:33
Pan-STARRS spotted an object
moving rapidly between the stars,
moving rapidly between the stars,
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泛星计划发现了一个
在星系间快速移动的物体，
在星系间快速移动的物体，
00:38
and this time the usual follow-up
measurements of position and speed
measurements of position and speed
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这一次，例行的
位置和速度测量结果
位置和速度测量结果
00:42
showed something completely different.
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显示了完全不一样的结果。
00:45
By October 22nd, we had enough data
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到10月22日，我们有了足够的数据
00:47
to realize that this object
wasn't from our solar system.
wasn't from our solar system.
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证明这个物体不是来自太阳系。
00:51
Holy cow.
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我的天。
00:53
That's when I got the phone call,
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我就是在那天接到的电话，
00:55
the phone call that all solar system
astronomers are waiting for.
astronomers are waiting for.
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所有研究太阳系的天文学家
都在等这个电话。
都在等这个电话。
00:59
Let me tell you how exciting this was.
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我来告诉你们这件事有多让人激动。
01:01
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
从20世纪70年代开始，
NASA就想找到一颗
NASA就想找到一颗
01:02
NASA's been expecting to see
an interstellar comet
an interstellar comet
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01:05
pass through the solar system
since the 1970s,
since the 1970s,
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跨星际飞行的彗星，能横穿太阳系，
01:08
but until now, we'd never seen anything.
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但直到现在都没有任何发现。
01:11
Our own solar system is huge,
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我们的太阳系很大，
01:14
so even getting a package
from the nearest star system
from the nearest star system
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即使从最近的、
离我们4.4光年的恒星系统
离我们4.4光年的恒星系统
01:17
4.4 light years away
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发点东西过来，
01:19
would take over 50,000 years.
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也需要5万年那么久。
01:22
So this is a really big deal.
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因此这件事真的非常重要。
01:24
The interstellar visitor
entered our solar system
entered our solar system
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这位星际访客是从行星平面上方，
01:27
from above the plane of the planets,
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从天琴座的方向
01:29
coming from the direction
of the constellation Lyra,
of the constellation Lyra,
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进入我们的太阳系的，
01:32
and it passed closest to the Sun
on September 9th,
on September 9th,
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它在9月9日经过了近日点，
01:35
passing inside the orbit of Mercury.
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从水星轨道内穿过。
01:38
Now this isn't a particularly
close approach or unusual distance.
close approach or unusual distance.
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这个距离其实不算近，
属于正常范围。
属于正常范围。
01:42
It's just much easier
to see objects close by.
to see objects close by.
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但是已经让我们的观测
变得容易多了。
变得容易多了。
01:47
On October 14th,
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在10月14日，
01:48
before we discovered it, it made
its closest approach to the Earth,
its closest approach to the Earth,
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在我们发现它之前，
它已经掠过了近地点，
它已经掠过了近地点，
01:52
within about 15 million miles.
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差不多在1500万英里之内。
01:55
This is really close
by astronomical standards.
by astronomical standards.
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就天文学的标准来说，
这已经相当近了。
这已经相当近了。
01:59
Now rather than call this
by its unwieldy catalog name,
by its unwieldy catalog name,
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我们没有按照枯燥的
目录命名来称呼它，
目录命名来称呼它，
02:03
we briefly called it "Rama,"
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我们叫它“拉玛”，
02:06
after the cylindrical spacecraft
that passed through the solar system
that passed through the solar system
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名字来自于阿瑟 · C · 克拉克
1973年的经典科幻小说
1973年的经典科幻小说
02:10
in Arthur C. Clarke's classic
science fiction story in 1973.
science fiction story in 1973.
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里面那艘穿过太阳系的
圆柱形宇宙飞船。
圆柱形宇宙飞船。
02:15
But this wasn't quite right either,
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但其实这个名字也不太合适，
02:17
so in honor of it being discovered
by a telescope in Hawaii,
by a telescope in Hawaii,
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因为发现它的望远镜是在夏威夷，
02:21
we consulted two experts
on Hawaiian culture --
on Hawaiian culture --
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于是我们找了两位夏威夷文化的专家，
02:24
a Hawaiian navigator and a linguist --
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一位夏威夷向导和一位语言学家，
02:27
to propose a name.
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来想一个名字。
02:28
And they suggested "'Oumuamua,"
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他们提议叫“奥陌陌”，
02:31
which means scout or messenger
from the distant past reaching out to us.
from the distant past reaching out to us.
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意思是经过长途跋涉
找到我们的侦察兵或者信使。
找到我们的侦察兵或者信使。
02:37
Now this discovery
was important for many reasons,
was important for many reasons,
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这个发现之所以重要，有很多原因，
02:41
but to me the most significant
is for what 'Oumuamua can tell us
is for what 'Oumuamua can tell us
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但我认为最有意义的是，
奥陌陌能告诉我们
奥陌陌能告诉我们
02:45
about the past of our solar system.
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我们太阳系的过去。
02:48
The process of the birth of a new solar
system and the growth of planets
system and the growth of planets
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一个新的恒星系统的诞生
和行星的成长
和行星的成长
02:52
can be a violent and messy business.
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是一个剧烈而混乱的过程。
02:55
Leftover icy and rocky debris
gets ejected from the new solar system
gets ejected from the new solar system
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多余的冰和岩石碎屑
被甩出这个新生的恒星系统。
被甩出这个新生的恒星系统。
02:59
as the giant planets migrate
through the dusty disk
through the dusty disk
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巨大的行星从它们诞生的尘埃中
03:03
out of which they're formed.
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穿越而过。
03:06
Now have you ever felt an emotional chill,
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你们有没有感受过情绪的震颤，
03:10
something that's so exciting
that a shiver runs up and down your spine?
that a shiver runs up and down your spine?
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就是有件事让你很激动，
一阵颤抖的感觉沿着你的脊柱上下？
一阵颤抖的感觉沿着你的脊柱上下？
03:16
Or something that's
very emotionally moving?
very emotionally moving?
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或者让你觉得非常受感动？
03:19
Well this was it for me.
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我当时就是这种感觉。
03:21
This was my wow moment.
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这是我的惊喜时刻。
03:23
We actually had a piece of material
from another solar system
from another solar system
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有一块从其他星系过来的物质
03:27
coming close enough for us to observe.
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离得够近，可以让我们观察。
03:31
So what would you like to know
about 'Oumuamua,
about 'Oumuamua,
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关于奥陌陌，你们想知道些什么呢，
03:34
the very first visitor
from another star system?
from another star system?
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它是第一位来自另一个星系的访客。
03:38
Well, I could think of a million things,
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我可以想到一百万件事，
03:41
but there's what you want
and what you can have,
and what you can have,
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但是现实和理想总是有差距的，
03:44
and 'Oumuamua was moving away
and fading very rapidly.
and fading very rapidly.
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奥陌陌当时正在离我们而去，
消失得非常快。
消失得非常快。
在差不多一周的时间里，
03:49
In the span of about a week,
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03:51
it had dropped in brightness
by a factor of [10].
by a factor of [10].
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它的亮度就下降了百分之一。
03:54
So this is about all the time
we were going to have
we were going to have
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因此我们能用来方便地研究它的时间
03:57
to study it easily.
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非常有限。
03:59
So we had to distill the process
of getting telescope time --
of getting telescope time --
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因此我们要加快申请使用望远镜，
04:04
normally a very competitive,
peer-reviewed proposal process
peer-reviewed proposal process
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申请过程充满竞争、手续繁杂，
04:08
that can take up to months --
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通常要花几个月的时间，
04:10
down to less than a few days.
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而我们只有几天的时间。
04:12
So began a "polite"
competition for resources.
competition for resources.
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于是开始了一场
“礼貌地”争夺资源的竞争。
“礼貌地”争夺资源的竞争。
04:17
OK, let me not mince words.
It was a fierce battle.
It was a fierce battle.
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好吧，还是不要说反话了。
那是一场激烈的战斗。
那是一场激烈的战斗。
04:20
We dropped everything,
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我们放下了所有的事情，
04:22
working around the clock,
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跟时间赛跑，
04:23
trying to craft
perfectly crafted proposal words
perfectly crafted proposal words
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试图写出一篇完美的申请报告
04:27
to send to the observatory directors.
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发给天文台台长。
04:30
Well, good news. We got the time.
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好在事遂人愿，
我们申请到了使用时间。
我们申请到了使用时间。
04:34
Now, from a perfectly
selfish point of view,
selfish point of view,
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从非常私人的观点出发，
04:37
the first thing we might like to know
is how massive 'Oumuamua is.
is how massive 'Oumuamua is.
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我们想要了解的第一件事
可能是奥陌陌的质量是多少。
可能是奥陌陌的质量是多少。
04:42
Because after all,
it passed very close to the Earth,
it passed very close to the Earth,
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因为毕竟它曾经离地球非常近，
04:45
and we didn't know about it
until afterwards.
until afterwards.
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而我们发现它的时候它已经远离了。
04:48
How bad would this have been
had it not missed the Earth?
had it not missed the Earth?
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如果它撞上地球，会有多糟糕？
04:53
Well, the impact energy
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撞击的能量
04:55
depends on the square
of the velocity times its mass,
of the velocity times its mass,
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取决于速度的平方乘以它的质量，
04:59
and the mass depends
on how big it is and what it's made of.
on how big it is and what it's made of.
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而质量取决于它有多大，
以及由什么物质组成。
以及由什么物质组成。
05:03
So how big is 'Oumuamua,
and what's its shape?
and what's its shape?
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那么奥陌陌有多大呢？
形状又是什么样？
形状又是什么样？
05:07
Well, we can get this from its brightness.
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我们能从它的亮度上来判断。
05:10
Now, if you don't believe me,
think of comparing the brightness
think of comparing the brightness
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如果你不相信的话，
想象一下，我们来比较两者的亮度，
想象一下，我们来比较两者的亮度，
一个是你后院的萤火虫
05:13
of a firefly in your backyard
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05:14
to the navigation lights
on a distant airplane.
on a distant airplane.
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一个是远处飞机上的导航灯。
05:18
You know the airplane is much brighter --
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飞机的灯肯定更亮，
它看起来比较暗淡是因为离得远。
05:20
it just appears faint
because it's so far away.
because it's so far away.
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05:24
We're also going to need to know
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我们还需要知道
05:26
how reflective
the surface of 'Oumuamua is,
the surface of 'Oumuamua is,
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奥陌陌的表面反射情况，
05:29
and we don't have any clue,
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我们没有任何线索，
05:31
but it's reasonable to assume
it's very similar to small asteroids
it's very similar to small asteroids
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但是可以有依据地猜测，
应该跟我们太阳系中的
应该跟我们太阳系中的
05:35
and comets in our solar system,
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小行星和卫星很相似。
05:37
or in technical terms,
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或者用技术性的描述，
05:39
something between the reflectivity
of charcoal and wet sand.
of charcoal and wet sand.
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它的反射率应该介于
木炭和潮湿的沙子之间。
木炭和潮湿的沙子之间。
05:44
Nowadays, most of the big telescopes
are used in what's called a service mode,
are used in what's called a service mode,
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如今，大多数大型望远镜
都在以所谓服务模式运行，
都在以所谓服务模式运行，
05:50
meaning we have to carefully develop
all the instructions
all the instructions
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就是说我们要仔细地准备
所有的操作流程，
所有的操作流程，
05:54
and send them to the telescope operator,
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然后发给望远镜操作员，
05:56
and then anxiously wait
for the data to come back,
for the data to come back,
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之后就是焦急地等待数据发过来，
05:59
praying to the weather gods.
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同时向天气之神祈祷。
06:01
Now I bet most of you don't have careers
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我打赌你们都没做过这种工作，
06:04
that critically depend on whether or not
it's cloudy last night.
it's cloudy last night.
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成败与否极度依赖于头天晚上
是不是多云的天气。
是不是多云的天气。
06:08
Well, we weren't going to get
any second chances here.
any second chances here.
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我们不再会有第二次机会。
06:12
Because the weather was great,
'Oumuamua decided not to be.
'Oumuamua decided not to be.
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因为天气很不错，于是奥陌陌
给我们带来一点挑战。
给我们带来一点挑战。
06:16
Its brightness wasn't constant.
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它的亮度不是很恒定。
我们现在看到的是奥陌陌
在星星之间穿梭。
在星星之间穿梭。
06:18
Now here we see 'Oumuamua
racing between the stars.
racing between the stars.
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06:21
It's centered in the middle.
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它被放在了中间。
06:23
The stars are trailed out because
the telescope is following its motion.
the telescope is following its motion.
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星星在移动，因为望远镜
是跟着奥陌陌走的。
是跟着奥陌陌走的。
06:28
It started faint and then it got brighter,
fainter, brighter, and fainter again,
fainter, brighter, and fainter again,
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它一会儿变暗，一会儿变亮，不停反复，
06:33
as sunlight is reflected off
of four sides of an oblong object.
of four sides of an oblong object.
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因为这个长方形物体的
四个面都会反射阳光。
四个面都会反射阳光。
06:39
The extreme brightness change
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这种急剧的亮度变化
06:41
led us to an unbelievable
conclusion about its shape.
conclusion about its shape.
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让我们得出了关于它形状的
非常难以置信的结论。
非常难以置信的结论。
06:46
As shown in this artist's impression,
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根据艺术家制作的效果图，
06:48
'Oumuamua is apparently
very long and narrow,
very long and narrow,
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奥陌陌显然又长又窄，
06:51
with an axis ratio of about 10 to one.
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长短轴比差不多是10比1。
06:55
Assuming it's dark,
this means it's about half a mile long.
this means it's about half a mile long.
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假设它是黑色的，
那就意味着它有800米长。
那就意味着它有800米长。
06:59
Nothing else in our
solar system looks like this.
solar system looks like this.
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太阳系里从未有过这样的天体。
07:03
We only have a handful of objects
that even have an axis ratio
that even have an axis ratio
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我们观测到的长短轴比
超过5比1的天体
超过5比1的天体
07:07
bigger than five to one.
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也非常少。
07:09
So we don't know how this forms,
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我们不清楚它是怎么形成的，
07:11
but it may be part of its birth process
in its home solar system.
in its home solar system.
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但可能跟它在自己星系中的
形成过程有关。
形成过程有关。
07:17
'Oumuamua was varying in brightness
every 7.34 hours,
every 7.34 hours,
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奥陌陌的亮度
每7.34小时就发生变化，
每7.34小时就发生变化，
07:23
or so we thought.
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至少我们是这么认为的。
07:24
As more data started
to come in from other teams,
to come in from other teams,
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其他团队的数据陆续发来，
07:27
they were reporting different numbers.
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他们上报的数据有所不同。
07:29
Why is it the more
we learn about something,
we learn about something,
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为什么我们对一件事情了解越多，
07:31
the harder it gets to interpret?
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就越难将它解释清楚呢？
07:34
Well, it turns out that 'Oumuamua
is not rotating in a simple way.
is not rotating in a simple way.
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事实上，奥陌陌并不是简单地在旋转。
07:38
It's wobbling like a top.
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而是像陀螺一样在摇晃。
07:40
So while it is rotating
around its short axis,
around its short axis,
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它在绕自己短轴旋转的同时，
07:43
it's also rolling around the long axis
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也在绕长轴翻转，
07:46
and nodding up and down.
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同时上下摇晃。
07:48
This very energetic, excited motion
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这种有力的、激烈的运动形式，
07:51
is almost certainly the result
of it being violently tossed
of it being violently tossed
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几乎可以肯定，是因为它被猛烈地
07:55
out of its home solar system.
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抛出了自己的太阳系。
07:58
Now how we interpret the shape
from its brightness
from its brightness
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我们如何通过它的亮度
来解释它的形状，
来解释它的形状，
08:01
depends very critically
on how it's spinning,
on how it's spinning,
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很大程度上取决于它的旋转方式，
08:04
so now we have to rethink
what it may look like,
what it may look like,
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因此我们不得不重新猜测它的样子，
08:07
and as shown in this beautiful painting
by space artist Bill Hartmann,
by space artist Bill Hartmann,
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正如太空画家比尔 · 哈特曼
这幅漂亮的画作所展示的一样，
这幅漂亮的画作所展示的一样，
08:10
we think that 'Oumuamua
may be more of a flattened oval.
may be more of a flattened oval.
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我们认为奥陌陌可能
更像一个扁平的椭圆。
更像一个扁平的椭圆。
08:15
So let's get back to the energetics.
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让我们说回它的能量。
08:17
What is it made of?
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它是由什么构成的？
08:19
Well, ideally we would love
to have a piece of 'Oumuamua
to have a piece of 'Oumuamua
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当然，最理想的方式是
我们能拿到一片奥陌陌的样本，
我们能拿到一片奥陌陌的样本，
08:22
into the laboratory,
so we could study it in detail.
so we could study it in detail.
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送到实验室仔细研究。
08:26
But since even private industry
can't manage to launch
can't manage to launch
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但是即便是私人企业也无法在一周内
08:29
a spacecraft within a week
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发射宇宙飞船，
飞往这样一个目标，
08:31
to something like this,
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08:33
astronomers have to rely
on remote observations.
on remote observations.
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天文学家们不得不依靠遥控观测，
08:36
So astronomers will look at how the light
interacts with the surface.
interacts with the surface.
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他们观察光线如何与表面互动。
08:40
Some colors may get absorbed,
giving it a chemical fingerprint,
giving it a chemical fingerprint,
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有些颜色的光线可能会被吸收，
给它留下一个化学指纹，
给它留下一个化学指纹，
08:44
whereas other colors may not.
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而其他的颜色则不会。
08:46
On the other hand, some substances
may just reflect more blue
may just reflect more blue
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换句话说，有些物体
会反射更多蓝色的光
会反射更多蓝色的光
08:51
or red light efficiently.
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或者红色的光。
08:53
In the case of 'Oumuamua,
it reflected more red light,
it reflected more red light,
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而奥陌陌，会反射更多的红光，
08:57
making it look very much like the organic
rich surface of the comet recently visited
rich surface of the comet recently visited
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使它看起来很像罗塞塔号
最近造访的那颗彗星
最近造访的那颗彗星
09:02
by the Rosetta spacecraft.
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富含有机物的表面。
09:04
But not everything that looks reddish
has the same composition.
has the same composition.
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但并不是所有看起来
发红的物体都有相同的成分。
发红的物体都有相同的成分。
09:09
In fact, minerals that have
tiny little bits of iron in the surface
tiny little bits of iron in the surface
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实际上，表面含有少量铁的矿物质
09:13
can also look red,
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看起来也是红色的，
09:15
as does the dark side
of Saturn's moon Iapetus,
of Saturn's moon Iapetus,
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就像土星的卫星伊阿珀托斯的暗面，
09:17
shown in these images
from the Cassini spacecraft.
from the Cassini spacecraft.
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从卡西尼号航天器
拍下的照片中就可以看出来。
拍下的照片中就可以看出来。
09:21
Nickel-iron meteorites,
in other words, metal,
in other words, metal,
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镍铁陨石，换句话说，就是金属，
也可能呈红色。
09:23
can also look red.
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09:26
So while we don't know
what's on the surface,
what's on the surface,
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既然我们无法得知表面有什么，
09:28
we know even less
about what's on the inside.
about what's on the inside.
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就更无从知晓
它的内部由什么构成了。
它的内部由什么构成了。
09:32
However, we do know
that it must at least be strong enough
that it must at least be strong enough
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但我们至少确定它足够坚固
09:35
to not fly apart as it rotates,
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才不会在旋转中解体，
09:37
so it probably has a density
similar to that of rocky asteroids;
similar to that of rocky asteroids;
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因此它的密度
应该跟石质的小行星类似，
应该跟石质的小行星类似，
09:41
perhaps even denser, like metal.
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也许更大，接近金属。
09:45
Well, at the very least,
I want to show you
I want to show you
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至少，我想给大家看一眼
我们的一架地基天文望远镜
09:47
one of the beautiful
color images that we got
color images that we got
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拍到的一张漂亮的彩色照片。
09:49
from one of the ground-based telescopes.
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09:52
All right, I admit,
it's not all that spectacular.
it's not all that spectacular.
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好吧，我承认，并没有那么漂亮。
09:55
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:56
We just don't have the resolution.
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分辨率不够高。
09:59
Even Hubble Space Telescope
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即便是哈勃太空望远镜
10:01
doesn't present a much better view.
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也无法拍得更好。
10:04
But the importance of the Hubble data
was not because of the images,
was not because of the images,
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但是哈勃提供的数据的重要性，
并不在于它拍摄的照片，
并不在于它拍摄的照片，
10:07
but because it extended
our observations out
our observations out
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而是它将我们的观察期
10:10
to two and a half months
from the discovery,
from the discovery,
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延长到了自发现起的2个半月，
10:12
meaning we get more positions
along the orbit,
along the orbit,
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意味着我们能获得它
轨道的更多位置，
轨道的更多位置，
10:15
which will hopefully let us figure out
where 'Oumuamua came from.
where 'Oumuamua came from.
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也就有希望弄清楚奥陌陌来自哪里。
10:21
So what exactly is 'Oumuamua?
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那么，奥陌陌到底是什么？
10:25
We firmly believe it's likely to be
a leftover archaeological remnant
a leftover archaeological remnant
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我们坚信，它应该是另一个行星系统
10:30
from the process of the birth
of another planetary system,
of another planetary system,
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在诞生时留下的遗迹，
10:34
some celestial driftwood.
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一些天体漂流木。
10:36
Some scientists think
that maybe 'Oumuamua formed
that maybe 'Oumuamua formed
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有些科学家认为，
奥陌陌在形成的时候
奥陌陌在形成的时候
10:40
very close to a star
that was much denser than our own,
that was much denser than our own,
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离一颗恒星非常近，
这颗恒星比太阳密度要大，
这颗恒星比太阳密度要大，
10:43
and the star's tidal forces
shredded planetary material
shredded planetary material
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在它形成的早期，潮汐力将
10:47
early in the solar system's history.
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许多行星物质撕裂了。
10:49
Still others suggest that maybe
this is something that formed
this is something that formed
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而另一些人认为，
奥陌陌也许诞生于
奥陌陌也许诞生于
10:53
during the death throes of a star,
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某颗恒星生命的晚年，
10:55
perhaps during a supernova explosion,
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也许是在超新星爆发阶段，
行星物质被撕碎。
10:58
as planetary material got shredded.
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11:02
Whatever it is, we believe
it's a natural object,
it's a natural object,
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无论原因是什么，
我们都相信它是自然形成的，
我们都相信它是自然形成的，
但我们也无法证明它不是人造的。
11:05
but we can't actually prove
that it's not something artificial.
that it's not something artificial.
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11:10
The color, the strange shape,
the tumbling motion
the tumbling motion
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它的颜色，奇怪的形状，
翻滚的动作模式，
翻滚的动作模式，
11:14
could all have other explanations.
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都有可能完全是另一种解释。
11:16
Now while we don't believe
this is alien technology,
this is alien technology,
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既然我们不相信
这是外星人的技术，
这是外星人的技术，
11:20
why not do the obvious experiment
and search for a radio signal?
and search for a radio signal?
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那为什么不做个简单的实验，
搜索一下无线电信号呢？
搜索一下无线电信号呢？
11:25
That's exactly what
the Breakthrough Listen project did,
the Breakthrough Listen project did,
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这就是“突破监听计划”在做的，
11:28
but so far, 'Oumuamua
has remained completely quiet.
has remained completely quiet.
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但到目前为止，
奥陌陌依然是静默状态。
奥陌陌依然是静默状态。
11:33
Now could we send
a spacecraft to 'Oumuamua
a spacecraft to 'Oumuamua
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那我们能不能发射
一艘宇宙飞船去追赶奥陌陌，
一艘宇宙飞船去追赶奥陌陌，
11:35
and answer this question once and for all?
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一次性搞清楚所有的问题呢？
11:38
Yes, we do actually have the technology,
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没错，从技术上来说完全可行，
11:40
but it would be a long
and expensive voyage,
and expensive voyage,
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但这将是一场漫长而昂贵的远航，
11:42
and we would get there so far from the Sun
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我们会离开太阳非常远，
11:45
that the final approach trajectory
would be very difficult.
would be very difficult.
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计算最后的对接轨道将非常困难。
11:49
So I think 'Oumuamua probably
has many more things to teach us,
has many more things to teach us,
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因此我觉得，奥陌陌
还可以教我们很多事情，
还可以教我们很多事情，
11:54
and in fact there might be
more surprises in store
more surprises in store
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事实上，随着包括我在内的
科学家们继续研究数据，
科学家们继续研究数据，
11:57
as scientists such as myself
continue to work with the data.
continue to work with the data.
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应该还有更多惊喜在等着我们。
12:02
More importantly,
I think this visitor from afar
I think this visitor from afar
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更重要的是，这位远道而来的访客
12:05
has really brought home the point
that our solar system isn't isolated.
that our solar system isn't isolated.
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证明了一点，我们的太阳系
并不是孤立的。
并不是孤立的。
12:10
We're part of a much larger environment,
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我们是一个更大世界的一部分，
12:13
and in fact, we may even
be surrounded by interstellar visitors
be surrounded by interstellar visitors
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实际上，我们周围
可能有许多星际访客，
可能有许多星际访客，
12:18
and not even know it.
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而我们还没有察觉。
12:20
This unexpected gift
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这件意外的礼物
12:22
has perhaps raised more questions
than its provided answers,
than its provided answers,
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带来的疑问可能
比它解答的问题还要多，
比它解答的问题还要多，
12:26
but we were the first to say hello
to a visitor from another solar system.
to a visitor from another solar system.
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但我们是第一批对来自
其他星系的客人打招呼的人。
其他星系的客人打招呼的人。
12:32
Thank you.
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谢谢大家。
12:33
(Applause)
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（掌声）
12:42
Jedidah Isler: Thanks, Karen.
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吉迪达 · 伊斯勒：谢谢凯伦。
12:44
I of course enjoyed
that talk very much. Thank you.
that talk very much. Thank you.
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我非常喜欢这次演讲，谢谢你。
我回顾了一下演讲内容，我们
发现它的时候已经非常晚了。
发现它的时候已经非常晚了。
12:46
As I recall, we found it
pretty late in its journey towards us.
pretty late in its journey towards us.
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12:50
Will future technologies like
the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope
the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope
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未来的科技，比如
大型综合巡天望远镜，
大型综合巡天望远镜，
12:54
help us detect these things sooner?
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是否能帮我们更早一点
发现这样的物体呢？
发现这样的物体呢？
凯伦 · 梅赫：是的，我们希望
能发现很多这样的天体，
能发现很多这样的天体，
12:56
Karen Meech: Yeah. We're hoping that
we'll start to see a lot of these things,
we'll start to see a lot of these things,
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理想的是，最好能有一颗
正在向太阳靠近，
正在向太阳靠近，
13:00
and ideally, you'd love to find one
as it's approaching the Sun,
as it's approaching the Sun,
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13:03
because you want to have time
to do all the science,
to do all the science,
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这样就有时间来进行研究，
13:07
or even more ideal,
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更理想的是，
13:08
you'd get a spacecraft ready to go,
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有一艘飞船时刻准备着，
13:10
parked somewhere in the L4 or L5 position,
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停在L4或者L5的位置，
13:13
somewhere near Earth,
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靠近地球，
13:14
so that when something comes by,
you can chase it.
you can chase it.
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这样如果有东西飞过，
就能进行追踪。
就能进行追踪。
13:17
JI: Awesome, thanks so much.
Let's thank Karen again.
Let's thank Karen again.
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吉迪达 · 伊斯勒：太棒了，
非常感谢。再次感谢凯伦。
非常感谢。再次感谢凯伦。
13:20
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Karen J. Meech - Astronomer, astrobiologistKaren J. Meech is an astronomer who investigates how habitable worlds form and explores the bigger picture of whether there is life elsewhere.
Why you should listen
Astrobiologist Karen J. Meech uses the leftover pieces from our solar system's formation to understand how habitable planets are made. Her curiosity about life beyond earth was inspired as a child watching Star Trek. From this, her path led to a career in physics and astronomy, with a PhD in planetary physics from MIT. She is now an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, where she leads the astrobiology group, and she is a passionate scientific educator.
Meech started her astronomical career investigating comets, the icy leftovers from the birth of our solar system. Her work led to an understanding of many of the processes that cause the beautiful tails to develop far from our Sun. She was co-investigator on three comet missions. Her discoveries provide information to test our understanding of how planetary systems are assembled. Now her work has embraced the power of interdisciplinary science, and she is combining geological field work, geochemistry, astronomical observations, theory and space mission concepts to address fundamental questions about how earth got its water.
Karen J. Meech | Speaker | TED.com