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Dead Star Set to Escape the Milky Way

Posted by Zonk on from the ware-the-undead dept.

slackah wrote to mention a NewScientist.com article discussing a fast-moving stellar corpse on its way out of our galaxy. From the article: "The object, called B1508+55, is a rotating neutron star, or pulsar. It is the superdense core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova about 2.5 million years ago. The explosion seems to have ejected the pulsar with such force that it will eventually escape the Milky Way entirely, says team member Shami Chatterjee, an astronomer with NRAO and CfA."

4 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Tracking by nounderscores · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I wonder how long we can track this object once it leaves the galaxy. Any perturbations of its path will tell us about the dark matter between galaxies and the gravitational pull such putative dark matter exerts.

    1. Re:Tracking by 1u3hr · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I wonder how long we can track this object once it leaves the galaxy. Any perturbations of its path will tell us about the dark matter

      Fast, for a star, but it's 1/300th of c. So it'll be at least 300,000 years to get 1000 ly out, getting to the edge of the galaxy. By then we'll either be extinct or know all about the dark matter.

  2. Insighful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The earth will be long dead, come on show a little knowledge.

  3. Re:ELE? by thc69 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, of course we are. Were you expecting to hitch a ride on it and live forever?

    --
    Procrastination -- because good things come to those who wait.