Citizen Astronomers Help Discover Escapee Star from the Milky Way

In an astonishing feat of citizen science, an international team working with NASA's Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project has identified a fast-moving celestial object hurtling out of the Milky Way at approximately one million miles per hour. Named CWISE J1249, this discovery marks the first time a hypervelocity object of such low mass—potentially similar to or smaller than a small star—has been found poised to exit our galaxy.

Operated by contributors like Martin Kabatnik from Germany and his peers Thomas Bickle and Dan Caselden, Backyard Worlds leverages data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WISE), later known as NEOWISE. It was these infrared images that first revealed the blur of CWISE J1249 crossing the cosmic vista.

Subsequent collaborations with ground-based telescopes, including the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, provided more complex data that assisted the team in characterizing CWISE J1249's distinctive low-iron makeup, hinting at an ancient origin possibly dating back to the nascent stages of the Milky Way.

The object’s origins remain a topic for debate but may include an explosive trajectory initiated by a supernova or a slingshot maneuver courtesy of a binary black hole. UC San Diego scientists, including assistant professor Kyle Kremer, are intently examining the elemental fingerprint of CWISE J1249 for further insight into its cosmic journey.

This testament to collaborative research showcases the Backyard Worlds' open approach to science, integrating professional, student, and volunteer efforts. Citizen scientist Frank Kiwy's software played a pivotal role, as well as inspiration from fellow enthusiasts like Melina Thévenot. The project, which has also led to the discovery of over 4,000 brown dwarfs, illustrates the potential for citizen contributors to significantly impact scientific discovery.

Lead by Professor Adam Burgasser from University of California, San Diego, with co-authors and former citizen scientists-turned-astronomy students Hunter Brooks and Austin Rothermich, this study provides a compelling narrative of how shared curiosity and structured inquiry can unravel the mysteries of our universe.