NASA Citizen Scientists Spot Object Moving 1 Million Miles Per Hour

In a groundbreaking discovery, citizen scientists participating in NASA's Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project have identified a hypervelocity object traveling at an astonishing speed of 1 million miles per hour. This remarkable find not only showcases the power of citizen science but also raises intriguing questions about the origins and nature of this celestial object.

Key Takeaways

• Discovery: A hypervelocity object named CWISE J124909.08+362116.0 was discovered by citizen scientists.
• Speed: The object is moving at approximately 1 million miles per hour, fast enough to escape the Milky Way.
• Composition: It has a low mass and unusual elemental composition, suggesting it may be an ancient relic of the early Milky Way.
• Potential Origins: The object may have originated from a binary system or a globular cluster.

The Backyard Worlds Project

NASA's Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project invites volunteers to analyze data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission, which mapped the sky in infrared light. The project has enabled citizen scientists to identify various celestial objects, including brown dwarfs and low-mass stars.

Citizen scientists Martin Kabatnik, Thomas P. Bickle, and Dan Caselden played a crucial role in spotting the fast-moving object, now designated as CWISE J1249. Their discovery was confirmed through follow-up observations with ground-based telescopes, leading to its characterization as a hypervelocity object.

Characteristics of CWISE J1249

CWISE J1249 is notable for several reasons:

• Speed: At 1 million miles per hour, it is on a trajectory that will allow it to escape the gravitational pull of the Milky Way.
• Mass: Its mass is similar to or less than that of a small star, making it difficult to classify definitively.
• Elemental Composition: Data from the W. M. Keck Observatory indicates that it contains significantly less iron and other metals than typical stars, suggesting it may be an ancient object from the early universe.

Theories Behind Its High Velocity

Scientists are exploring two primary theories regarding the high speed of CWISE J1249:

1. Binary System Origin: It may have originated from a binary system with a white dwarf that exploded as a supernova, propelling CWISE J1249 into its current trajectory.
2. Globular Cluster Ejection: Alternatively, it could have been ejected from a globular cluster due to interactions with black holes, which can dramatically alter the paths of stars.

The Role of Citizen Scientists

The discovery of CWISE J1249 highlights the significant contributions of citizen scientists in modern astronomy. Projects like Backyard Worlds leverage the unique ability of humans to detect patterns in vast datasets, often surpassing the capabilities of automated systems.

The collaborative efforts of volunteers, professional astronomers, and students are reshaping our understanding of the universe, leading to the identification of previously unknown celestial objects.

Conclusion

The identification of CWISE J1249 not only adds to our knowledge of hypervelocity stars but also opens new avenues for research into the dynamics of the Milky Way. As scientists continue to investigate its origins and composition, the role of citizen scientists will remain crucial in uncovering the mysteries of our universe.

Sources

• NASA Citizen Scientists Spot Object Moving 1 Million Miles Per Hour, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (.gov).
• NASA Citizen Scientists Spot Object Moving 1 Million Miles Per Hour - NASA Science, NASA Science (.gov).
• NASA Citizen Scientists Uncover Mysterious Object Traveling at 1 Million Miles per Hour, The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel.
• Tracking a newly discovered hypervelocity star spotted by citizen scientists, Phys.org.
• Citizen Scientists Spot Weird Object Careening Across the Cosmos at Ludicrous Speeds, Gizmodo.