W. M. Keck Observatory Science Spotlight

Hypervelocity Star Speeding Across the Milky Way

A rare star in our galaxy is racing across the sky at an impressive ~1.3 million mph. With its speed and unusual trajectory, this L subdwarf could be fast enough to potentially escape the Milky Way! It’s the first hypervelocity, very low mass star discovered. Located just 400 light-years away, it’s also the nearest known hypervelocity star to Earth.

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“Dark” Companions Found Orbiting Sun-like Stars

Astronomers have discovered 21 rare pairs of “dark” neutron stars orbiting Sun-like stars. Though inactive and emitting no bright light, a Caltech-led team uncovered these hidden neutron stars by detecting the wobble of their Sun-like companions as the neutron stars tugged at them – a first!

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Dark Matter Decoupled in Mega Galaxy Cluster Collision

Astronomers have for the first time measured the velocities at which dark matter and normal matter decoupled amidst an intense collision between two massive galaxy clusters. The discovery was made using multiple telescopes, including two Maunakea Observatories: Keck Observatory and the recently decommissioned Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (when it was still in operation).

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Image Credits

Hypervelocity Star: W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko
“Dark” Neutron Stars: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)
Dark Matter Decoupled: W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko

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W. M. Keck Observatory Science Spotlight

Hypervelocity Star Speeding Across the Milky Way

“Dark” Companions Found Orbiting Sun-like Stars

Dark Matter Decoupled in Mega Galaxy Cluster Collision

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Hypervelocity Star Speeding Across the Milky Way

“Dark” Companions Found Orbiting Sun-like Stars

Dark Matter Decoupled in Mega Galaxy Cluster Collision

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