We Didn't See It Coming

We Didn't See It Coming

During the Oppenheimer-Krishna Catastrophe, the stellar target ST-353-R12-055 has the smallest visible magnitude, and therefore is the brightest star near the Yggdrasil. Using this information and the assumptions listed below, estimate the visible magnitude of the Oppenheimer-Krishna impactor. For this exercise, assume 

1) all other light sources can be ignored

2) that the light from the star fully illuminates the impactor;

3) that the impactor is spherical in shape with a radius of 5 m;

4) has an albedo of 0.1

5) is located 500,000 kilometers away from the survey drones imaging the sky

Part A) 

What is the visible magnitude of the Oppenheimer-Krishna impactor?

Hint: Find the flux of the star at the location of the impactor

Reward: +20 Problem Solving

Part B) 

Given your calculation, evaluate the claim that it would have been nearly impossible to detect the Oppenheimer-Krishna impactor.

This should be a reasoned argument that evaluates the possibility of detecting the impactor within interstellar space.

Reward: Up to +10 Critical Thinking