NASA Citizen Scientists Discover Hypervelocity Object Racing Out of the Milky Way

Breakthrough Discovery by Citizen Scientists

A team of citizen scientists working with NASA's Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project has uncovered a remarkable cosmic phenomenon—a hypervelocity object named CWISE J124909.08+362116.0, or J1249 for short. This discovery is particularly notable because the object, which is either a low-mass star or a brown dwarf, is hurtling through space at an extraordinary speed of about 1 million miles per hour. This velocity is sufficient to potentially propel J1249 out of the Milky Way and into intergalactic space, making it a rare find.

Unusual Characteristics and Ancient Origins

J1249 stands out not only for its speed but also for its composition. Observations conducted using the W. M. Keck Observatory revealed that it has a significantly lower metal content compared to other stars or brown dwarfs. This suggests that J1249 is extremely old, likely formed in one of the earliest generations of stars within our galaxy. Such a composition further fuels interest in studying this object to understand the history and evolution of the Milky Way.

Theories Behind the High-Speed Escape

Two leading theories have been proposed to explain how J1249 reached such high speeds. One theory suggests that it might have been part of a binary system with a white dwarf, which eventually exploded as a supernova. The explosion would have provided the necessary force to eject J1249 at its current velocity. Alternatively, the object may have been flung out of a densely packed globular cluster following a close encounter with a binary pair of black holes. Both scenarios highlight the violent and dynamic processes that can occur in our galaxy.

A Collaborative Effort in Modern Astronomy

This discovery is a testament to the power of collaborative science. The Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project harnesses the keen observational skills of over 80,000 volunteers worldwide, allowing them to sift through vast datasets collected by NASA's WISE mission. The combined efforts of these citizen scientists, along with professional astronomers and students, have culminated in this groundbreaking discovery, showcasing the valuable contributions non-professionals can make in advancing our understanding of the universe.

Looking Ahead

The team continues to study J1249, aiming to uncover more details about its origin and the exact mechanism that set it on its current high-speed trajectory. This discovery opens up new avenues for research, particularly in understanding the dynamics of star systems and the potential for other such high-velocity objects in our galaxy.

This collaborative effort exemplifies the future of space exploration, where professional astronomers and citizen scientists together uncover the mysteries of the cosmos.