The Loeb Scale: Astronomical Classification of Interstellar Objects
2025/08/06 by Omer Eldadi, Gershon Tenenbaum, Eldadi, Omer +3 · 12 voices · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life #History and Developments in Astronomy #Astro and Planetary Science
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2508.09167
Abstract
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to increase interstellar object (ISO) detections from a few over the past decade to potentially one per few months, demanding a systematic classification scheme. We present the Loeb Scale, formally the Interstellar Object Significance Scale (IOSS), a 0-10 classification system extending the proven Torino Scale framework, to address ISOs' unique anomalies, including potential technosignatures. The scale provides quantitative thresholds for natural phenomena (Levels 0-3) and graduated protocols for increasingly anomalous characteristics (Levels 4-7), with Levels 8-10 reserved for confirmed artificial origin. Each level specifies observable criteria and response protocols. We demonstrate the scale's application using 1I/'Oumuamua (Level 4), 2I/Borisov (Level 0), and 3I/ATLAS (Level 4) as test cases. The Loeb Scale provides the astronomical community with a standardized framework for consistent, evidence-based and dynamic evaluation while maintaining scientific rigor across the full spectrum of possibilities as we enter an era of routine ISO encounters.
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- Now Loeb introduces the "Loeb Scale" for interstellar objects. Without exception eponyms are bestowed by usage in the community, not by the author of the damn thing. Love 8-10 for confirmed ETI origin [bsky, 34 points, 5 comments]
- omg how did I miss this (by Eldadi, Tenenbaum, and Loeb) and its follow-up today? 🧪 arxiv.org/abs/2508.09167 arxiv.org/abs/2509.06253 [bsky, 25 points, 7 comments]
- Inspired by this article, I would like to announce the Fisher Scale, a metric for measuring how cool an astrobiologist is. (If Avi can be full enough of himself to name a scale after himself, by golly [bsky, 11 points, 1 comments]
- #arXiv The Loeb Scale: Astronomical Classification of Interstellar Objects arxiv.org/abs/2508.09167 “Loeb Scale = Interstellar Object Significance Scale (IOSS), a 0-10 classification system extending [bsky, 5 points, 0 comments]
- Nein. [bsky, 3 points, 0 comments]
- The Loeb Scale: Astronomical Classification of Interstellar Objects [hn, 2 points, 1 comments]
- Remember that AAS research notes were rejected from arxiv… arxiv.org/abs/2508.09167 [bsky, 2 points, 1 comments]
- Oh my gods THIS GUY IS INSUFFERABLE THE LOEB SCALE?!!! https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.09167 "You know, I'm just not getting enough attention as a tenured professor at Harvard who yells about aliens after [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- One that might interest @philplait.bsky.social ---the "Loeb Scale" for the classification of interstellar objects. A curious mash-up of the Torino scale and various claimed technosignatures, curiously [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]
- #arXiv The Loeb Scale: Astronomical Classification of Interstellar Objects https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.09167 “Loeb Scale = Interstellar Object Significance Scale (IOSS), a 0-10 classification system ex [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- # arXiv The Loeb Scale: Astronomical Classification of Interstellar Objects https:// arxiv.org/abs/2508.09167 “Loeb Scale = Interstellar Object Significance Scale (IOSS), a 0-10 classification system [mastodon, 0 points, 2 comments]
- Omer Eldadi, Gershon Tenenbaum, Abraham Loeb: The Loeb Scale: Astronomical Classification of Interstellar Objects https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.09167 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.09167 https://arxiv.org/ht [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
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