In an incredible turn of events, NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project has revealed a mind-blowing discovery made by citizen scientists. The object, named CWISE J1249, was spotted by volunteers using data from NASA’s WISE mission. What’s the buzz? This object is zooming out of our galaxy at a staggering 1 million miles per hour and is on a path to escape the Milky Way entirely—a first for an object of such low mass!

✨ Why is CWISE J1249 so Special?
CWISE J1249 is not only racing out of our galaxy, but it’s also a puzzle to astronomers. It could be a low-mass star or a brown dwarf, which is an object that sits somewhere between a star and a gas giant planet. However, unlike most brown dwarfs, this one is unique because it’s the only known object of its kind with the speed and trajectory to leave our galaxy.

🚀 What’s Propelling This Star So Fast?
How did CWISE J1249 get so speedy? Scientists have a few ideas. One theory suggests it was part of a binary system, where a companion white dwarf exploded as a supernova, sending CWISE J1249 hurtling through space. Another idea is that it was flung out of a globular cluster after a close encounter with black holes. The exact cause of its hypervelocity remains a mystery that researchers are eager to unravel.

🔭 Citizen Scientists Leading the Way!
The discovery of CWISE J1249 was made by dedicated volunteers—Martin Kabatnik, Thomas P. Bickle, and Dan Caselden—who identified the fast-moving object in WISE images. Their sharp observations, alongside professional astronomers, led to this groundbreaking find. This discovery showcases the power of citizen science and how anyone can contribute to major astronomical discoveries.

🌠 What’s Next for Space Exploration?
The discovery of CWISE J1249 opens up exciting possibilities for understanding how objects can be propelled to such high speeds. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between the public and scientists in space exploration. Who knows what other cosmic mysteries are waiting to be uncovered?

🔗Learn More🚀
https://universecuriosities-newsletter.beehiiv.com/p/mystery-millionmile-star-cwise-j1249

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This artist's concept shows a hypothetical white dwarf, left, that has exploded as a supernova. The object at right is CWISE J1249, a star or brown dwarf ejected from this system as a result of the explosion. This scenario is one explanation for where CWISE J1249 came from.Credit: W.M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko