Police have revealed that an unidentified object that washed up on a West Australian beach is likely from space.
The huge metal cylinder was found near Green Head, about 250km north of Perth, on Sunday by members of the public who immediately called authorities.
The Australian Space Agency (ASA) and WA Police have not yet been able to determine exactly what the object is and its origin but believe that the item is “space debris”.
“WA Police Force has commenced discussions with several state agencies and the Shire of Coorow in relation to the planned safe movement and storage of the object, which will factor in additional precautions given the unknown origin of the object,” a police spokesman said.
The ASA has urged anyone who finds further suspected debris to report it to local police and notify the agency.
“The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information,” a spokesman said.
The object was initially treated as hazardous by police as they and state and federal agencies raced to determine if it was a risk to the community.
However, analysis by the Department of Fire and Emergency Service and Chemistry Centre of Western Australia determined that the object was safe and that there was no risk to the community because of it.
Despite the object being safe, WA Police continue to guard it and members of the public are asked to stay away.
Investigations have found that the object “did not originate from a commercial aircraft”.
This comes three weeks after another mysterious device was found floating offshore close to North Beach in Perth.
According to The West Australian newspaper, Australian Defence Force personnel detonated the device that was later found to be a marker marine flare.