Astronomers believe they have rediscovered a mysterious star system first spotted in 2011, with a tiny star and its exoplanet companion potentially traveling at over 1.2 million mph. The object is thought to be a small star orbited by a sizable exoplanet located near the galactic bulge of stars.
Researchers calculated that the star is traveling at least 1.2 million mph based on its location relative to the 2011 sighting. However, this speed may not be accurate as the new observations do not take into account the object’s direction relative to our system.
The potential exoplanet would have a mass roughly 30 times more massive than Earth and would likely be uninhabitable due to its distance from its home star. If confirmed, it would also be the first planet found orbiting a hypervelocity star.
Despite the excitement, scientists are still unsure about the true nature of the speeding object and its companion. They have not actually seen it move yet and may need to look again in another year to confirm their findings. Alternatively, an alternative explanation for the 2011 sighting suggests that the pair could be a giant rogue exoplanet being orbited by a massive exomoon.
Further observations are necessary to determine the true nature of this mysterious object and its companion. If confirmed, it would provide significant insights into the formation and evolution of our galaxy.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/astronomers-may-have-just-spotted-the-fastest-planetary-system-ever-seen