It will either be the greatest discovery mankind has yet made – or just another lump of galactic driftwood hurtling through space.
Astronomers are to scan a cigar-shaped asteroid for signs of extraterrestrial technology after concerns were raised that it could in fact be an alien starship.
The bizarre claim was made as researchers involved in Seti – the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence – prepared to turn a powerful dish telescope towards the mysterious interstellar traveller dubbed “Oumuamua”.
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University of Hawaii researchers spotted Oumuamua in October passing the Earth at about 85 times the distance to the moon. It was the first object found in the solar system that appears to originate from another part of the galaxy.
Now a team of alien-hunting scientists, led by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, will scan the comet before it sails beyond the reach of Earth’s telescopes.
They say they are looking for radio signals from the mysterious visitor, travelling at up to 196,000mph, which could signify an alien spaceship.
A statement from the £75 million Seti project Breakthrough Listen said: “Researchers working on long-distance space transportation have previously suggested that a cigar or needle shape is the most likely architecture for an interstellar spacecraft, since this would minimise friction and damage from interstellar gas and dust.
“While a natural origin is more likely, there is currently no consensus on what that origin might have been, and Breakthrough Listen is well positioned to explore the possibility that Oumuamua could be an artifact.”
From 8pm on Wednesday, a giant radio telescope will “listen” to the object across four radio frequency bands spanning one to 12 gigahertz.
A cigar or needle shape is the most likely architecture for an interstellar spacecraft
Lead scientist Dr Andrew Siemion, director of the Berkeley Seti Research Centre in California, said: “Whether this object turns out to be artificial or natural, it’s a great target for Listen.”
The object is currently about two astronomical units (AU) from Earth, or twice the distance between the Earth and sun.