Chinese astronomers have discovered 591 high-speed stars. Now there are more than a thousand

"High-speed" stars are stars with enormous spatial velocity, which can in some

moment to leave the galaxy in which they inhabit.43 of the newly discovered stars are able to escape the gravitational constraints of the Milky Way and in the future be carried away into intergalactic space. “Although high-speed stars with unique kinematics are rare in the Milky Way, they can better understand the structure of the universe, from the central supermassive black hole (Sagittarius A *) to distant galactic halos,” said NAOC Professor Lu Yujun and co-author of the paper.

After the first was opened in 2005a high-speed star, more than 550 more similar to it were discovered with the help of several telescopes in 15 years. “More than 500 stars discovered this time doubled the total number of previously discovered objects. The total number of high-velocity stars now exceeds 1,000, ”said Dr. Li Yingbi, lead author of the study.

LAMOST, the largest optical telescope in China,collects data at the fastest rate in the world. He is able to observe about 4,000 celestial targets in one exposure. Regular research with the telescope began in 2012.

Gaia is a space mission within the scientificprograms of the European Space Agency (ESA), launched in 2013. She provided astrometric parameters for over 1.3 billion sources. “Two huge databases have provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to find as many high-speed stars as possible,” said Professor Luo Ali of NAOC, co-author of the study.

Nearly 600 high-speed stars foundturned out to be of low metallicity. This indicates that the bulk of the stellar halo was formed as a result of the accretion and tidal destruction of dwarf galaxies.

Read also

Abortion and science: what will happen to the children who will give birth

Check out the most beautiful pictures of Hubble. What has the telescope seen in 30 years?

NASA published a photo of the Earth from the moon, which was taken in 1968