After investigating the nature of a mysterious and apparently cigar-shaped object called 'Oumuamua spotted in 2017 speeding through our solar system, astronomers remain uncertain over how to classify it, but are confident it is not an alien spaceship.

Its odd shape and motion had prompted some scientists to wonder whether 'Oumuamua — the first object from another star system found passing through our solar system — was some sort of alien technology perhaps exploring the cosmos. But after poring over the data, an international team of researchers wrote that "we find no compelling evidence to favor an alien explanation."

Scientists tracked the reddish-colored 'Oumuamua from Oct. 14, 2017, until Jan. 2, 2018, after which it became too faint to detect even using the most powerful telescopes. It is estimated to be a half-mile (800 meters) long, tumbling through space.