Discoveries using the telescopes on Mauna Kea

[TomK]

Thanks for that, HOTPE. It's a shame UKIRT is in wide-field mode at the moment because with the Cassegrain instruments we might have been able to determine if it's rock or man-made. We spent some time doing this sort of stuff a few years ago with NASA because UKIRT has a uniquie suite of instruments that are well-suited to this sort of study but unfortunately it's takes several days of heavy engineering to switch between modes (and a lot of money). We should be able to figure out what it is soon I hope. There's quite a bit of difference in the thermal properties of rocks and metal so once it's in orbit and undergoes changes between day and night we should be able to work it out.