A simulation of a possible explanation for an L subdwarf named CWISE J124909+362116.0’s speed shows it as a part of a white dwarf binary pair that ended with the white dwarf exploding into a supernova. Credit: Adam Makarenko / W.M. Keck Observatoryat 220 kilometers per second, but an even faster star, J1249+36, has been discovered moving at about 600 kilometers per second.
The spectral data, along with imaging data from several ground-based telescopes, allowed the team to accurately measure J1249+36’s position and velocity in space, and thereby predict its orbit through the Milky Way. “This is where the source became very interesting, as its speed and trajectory showed that it was moving fast enough to potentially escape the Milky Way,” stated Burgasser.At a speed of 220 km/s, it will take the Sun over 200 million years to orbit the Milky Way.
“In this kind of supernova, the white dwarf is completely destroyed, so its companion is released and flies off at whatever orbital speed it was originally moving, plus a little bit of a kick from the supernova explosion as well,” said Burgasser. “Our calculations show this scenario works.
“It demonstrates a proof of concept,” said Kremer, “but we don’t actually know what globular cluster this star is from.” Tracing J1249+36 back in time puts it in a very crowded part of the sky that may hide undiscovered clusters.To determine whether either of these scenarios, or some other mechanism, can explain J1249+36’s trajectory, Burgasser said the team hopes to look more closely at its elemental composition.
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