RX J0822−4300 explained

|- style="vertical-align: top;"| Galactic coordinates | 260.3841 −03.4718

RX J0822−4300, often referred to as a "Cosmic Cannonball", is a radio-quiet neutron star currently moving away from the center of the Puppis A supernova remnant at, making it one of the fastest moving stars ever found.[1] Earlier, it was believed to move with speed as high as 1,500 km/s. Astronomers used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to observe the star over a period of 11 years to determine its speed.[1]

Although the cosmic cannonball is not the only hypervelocity star discovered, it is unique in the apparent origin of its speed. Others may have derived theirs from a gravitational slingshot around the Milky Way's suspected supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. Current theories fail to explain how such speeds can be attained from a supernova explosion. It could be a possible quark star.

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References

Notes and References

  1. 1204.3510 . The Proper Motion of the Central Compact Object Rx J0822–4300 in the Supernova Remnant Puppis A . 2012 . Becker. Werner. Prinz. Tobias. Frank Winkler. P.. Petre. Robert. The Astrophysical Journal . 755 . 2 . 141 . 10.1088/0004-637X/755/2/141 . 250810663 .