NASA Scientists Spot Candidate for Speediest Exoplanet System
This artist's concept visualizes stars near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Each has a trail indicating its speed –– the longer the trail, the faster it's moving. NASA scientists recently discovered a candidate for a particularly speedy star, visualized near the center of this image, with an orbiting planet. If confirmed, the pair sets a record for fastest known exoplanet system.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)
Astronomers may have discovered a scrawny star bolting through the middle of our galaxy with a planet in tow. If confirmed, the pair sets a new record for the fastest-moving exoplanet system, nearly double our solar system’s speed through the Milky Way.
The planetary system is thought to move at least 1.2 million miles per hour, or 540 kilometers per second
This artist's concept visualizes a super-Neptune world orbiting a low-mass star near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Scientists recently discovered such a system that may break the current record for fastest exoplanet system, traveling at least 1.2 million miles per hour, or 540 kilometers per second.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)
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Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.
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Science writer
- Ashley Balzer (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
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Artist
- Robert Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)
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Producer
- Scott Wiessinger (eMITS)
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Scientist
- David P. Bennett (UMBC)
Release date
This page was originally published on Monday, February 10, 2025.
This page was last updated on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 10:03 AM EST.