Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a small star and its orbiting planet flying through the Milky Way at an unprecedented pace. According to NASA’s analysis, the system is traveling at least 1.2 million miles per hour, making it the fastest-known exoplanet orbiting such a fast-moving star. The team used data from the Keck Observatory and ESA’s Gaia satellite to confirm that the object is indeed a star.
Initially spotted in 2011, the team initially believed the objects were either a large star with a massive planet or a smaller planet with a moon. However, further analysis revealed that the larger object is about 2,300 times heavier than its partner. The team plans to revisit the object next year to confirm their findings.
The incredible speed of the system has led scientists to speculate about its origins. It may be part of a hypervelocity star system, which could have reached extreme speeds through interactions with other stars or black holes. Exoplanets come in various shapes and sizes, from super-Earths to hot Jupiters.
Recent discoveries have shed light on the diverse range of exoplanets, including supersonic winds on WASP-127b and massive exoplanets discovered by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. The Roman Space Telescope, set to launch in 2027, is expected to reveal more about these mysterious worlds.
For now, astronomers are excited to study this record-breaking star and planet duo, which will be confirmed next year.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/astronomers-track-a-runaway-star-and-its-planet-traveling-at-hyperspeed-2000561695