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On a separate Oumuamua question (Oumuamua alien space junk?), I was confused how shape could be inferred from a single pixel, per another user's (@Uwe) comment. It was suggested I ask this question here.

If all we've observed Oumuamua as is a single pixel, how can its elongated shape be deduced from that? How can any non-uniform shape be deduced from a single pixel?

Coldblackice
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    There are at least a few pixels in this image, not just one. Anyway, I think it had something to do with how its brightness varied as it rotated, betraying something of its shape. – BMF Nov 13 '19 at 22:36
  • Even with one pixel in an image, a sequence of images can be used to infer some structure and size. It's analogous to dithering. – Carl Witthoft Nov 14 '19 at 18:52
  • Let me know if the answer posted is sufficient or if I can add anything else to it, thanks! – uhoh Jan 05 '21 at 00:56

1 Answers1

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If we've only observed Oumuamua as a single pixel, how can we know its shape?

Nobody "knows" the shape of Oumuamua. However there are standard ways of deducing the objects likely shape based on assumptions, and this methodology has been tested agains asteroids for which their shape has been checked by other methods, including delay-Doppler radar (see Is delay-doppler radar imaging of NEO asteroids possible only if it spins fast enough? for example) and measurements from deep-space spacecraft that have approached and even orbited individual asteroids.

This answer to Could asteroid 'Oumuamua actually be round? shows a preliminary light curve and a simulation based on some assumptions of albedo and rigid-body rotation dynamics. It's not likely we will ever know its shape for sure, at least not with current capabilities of space travel, so this kind of analysis is the best that can be done.

For a more thorough analysis and modeling of Oumuamua's light curve see for example Modeling the light curve of `Oumuamua: evidence for torque and disc-like shape.

uhoh
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