HVGC-1 is the first discovered hypervelocity globular cluster.[2] Discovered in 2014, it was found escaping the supergiant elliptical galaxy Messier 87,[3] in the Virgo Cluster.[1] It is one of thousands of globular clusters found in M87.[4] It is the first hypervelocity star cluster so far discovered.[5] The globular is located at decimal degrees (RA, DEC) (187.72791°, +12.68295°).[1]
| HVGC-1 [1] | |
|---|---|
| Observation data (J2000.0[1] epoch) | |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 12h 30m 54.70s [1] |
| Declination | +12° 40′ 58.61″ [1] |
| Distance | 54 Mly (16.5 Mpc [1]) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Metallicity | = −0.9±0.3 [1] dex |
| Notable features | First discovered hypervelocity globular cluster |
| Other designations | HVGC-1,[1] H70848,[1] M87 H70848[1] |
![{\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}\left[{\ce {Fe}}/{\ce {H}}\right]\end{smallmatrix}}}](https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4c0821bd80891e071c08e7c7ee8e022baedf522c)
Properties
editThe object was observed to have an outlier velocity, ending with a determined radial velocity of −1026±13 km/s. In relation to M87, its velocity was determined to be 2100–2300 km/s. The cluster's velocity is so high that it will escape the Virgo Cluster as well.[1]
The cluster's velocity is thought to originate by being ejected by the supermassive black hole at the center of M87, when the black hole stripped the outer layers of HVGC-1 off, it also ejected the remaining core with greater than escape velocity.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Nelson Caldwell (CfA), Jay Strader (Michigan St), Aaron J. Romanowsky (San Jose St/Santa Cruz), Jean P. Brodie (Santa Cruz), Ben Moore (Zurich), Jurg Diemand (Zurich), Davide Martizzi (Berkeley) (25 February 2014). "A Globular Cluster Toward M87 with a Radial Velocity < -1000 km/s: The First Hypervelocity Cluster". The Astrophysical Journal. 787 (1). arXiv:1402.6319. Bibcode:2014ApJ...787L..11C. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/787/1/L11. S2CID 116929202.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Entire Star Cluster Thrown Out of its Galaxy". CfA - Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 30 April 2014.
- ^ Klaus Schmidt (30 April 2014). "Entire Star Cluster Thrown Out of its Galaxy". Space Fellowship.
- ^ "Star cluster thrown out of galaxy at speed of more than 2 million mph". Fox News. 30 April 2014.
- ^ Shannon Hill (30 April 2014). "'Runaway' Star Cluster Breaks Free from Distant Galaxy". Universe Today.