In October of 2017, astronomers at the University of Hawaii spotted a fast-traveling interstellar object as it passed by the sun. Observers assessed the body as a comet but noted that it followed an unusual trajectory, as it was moving along an abnormal hyperbolic track in relation to the surrounding planets. This suggested that the body had come from outside of the solar system.
Because science had not yet observed an interstellar comet, this potential discovery held a high level of interest. Researchers continued to observe the phenomena over the next week, during which time observer Karen Meech of the University of Hawaii noted that its shape was completely star-like and indicated its nature was that of an asteroid, not a comet.
Now known as A/2017 U1, the asteroid nonetheless appears to be of interstellar origin. Researchers currently believe its origin to be in the direction of the constellation Lyra, near the star Vega. If it did in fact develop outside of the solar system, it is the first interstellar asteroid observed by astronomers on Earth.