Revision 1

Accepted · first revision · record

Title: How many interstellar objects are there, and of what sizes?
Plain: Each detection gives an estimate of how many such bodies fill space between the stars. This tells how much material planetary systems throw out while forming.
Precise: Determine the space density $n(>D)$ and size distribution of interstellar objects near the Sun; the detection of 1I implied $n \sim 0.1-0.2\,\mathrm{AU}^{-3}$ for $D >\sim 100\,\mathrm{m}$. Convert this into the mass of solids ejected per star and compare with planet-formation ejection models. The answer is $n(>D)$ with uncertainty and the inferred ejected mass per star.
Settled by: A detection rate with a well-characterized selection function from Rubin Observatory LSST over several years.
Kind: well-posed
Answer type: value
References: (empty)
Literature status: open
Status note: (empty)
Posed since: 2017