Anomalous Sun Flyby of 1I/2017 U1 (`Oumuamua)

Abstract

The findings of Micheli et al. (Nature2018, 559, 223–226) that 1I/2017 U1 (`Oumuamua) showed anomalous orbital accelerations have motivated us to apply an impact model of gravity in search for an explanation. A small deviation from the 1/r potential, where r is the heliocentric distance, is expected for the gravitational interaction of extended bodies as a consequence of this model. This modification of the potential results from an offset of the effective gravitational centre from the geometric centre of a spherically symmetric body. Applied to anomalous Earth flybys, the model accounts for energy gains relative to an exact Kepler orbit and an increased speed of several spacecraft. In addition, the flat rotation profiles of eight disk galaxies could be explained, as well as the anomalous perihelion advances of the inner planets and the asteroid Icarus. The solution in the case of `Oumuamua is also based on the proposal that the offset leads to an approach and flyby trajectory different from a Kepler orbit without postulating cometary activity. As a consequence, an adjustment of the potential and centrifugal orbital energies can be envisaged outside the narrow uncertainty ranges of the published post-perihelion data without a need to re-analyse the original data. The observed anomalous acceleration has been modelled with respect to the orbit solutions JPL 16 and “Pseudo-MPEC” for 1I/`Oumuamua.