Researchers from the National Astronomical Observatories of China and the Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands have identified a rare star, DESI-HVS1, capable of leaving the Milky Way. Based on DESI DR1 and Gaia DR3 data, this discovery proves that the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center can eject not only massive stars but also low-mass stars into space. This was reported by Ixbt.com reports .
Previously, scientists believed that only young and heavy stars could move at hypervelocity, which led to the "massive star paradox." However, DESI-HVS1, with a mass 0.76 times that of the Sun and an age of 14.1 billion years, refuted this theory. Its discovery showed that dynamic processes around black holes work the same way, regardless of star type.
Experts modeled the orbits in reverse time to calculate the star's trajectory. The results showed that about 12.89 million years ago, this star passed very close to the galactic center and was ejected at a speed of 682 km/s. Currently, its speed is 523 km/s, and it is on the verge of entering intergalactic space.
The "Hills mechanism" is cited as the only scientific explanation for this phenomenon. According to it, when a binary star system approaches a black hole, the intense gravitational force tears the pair apart: one star is consumed or remains in orbit, while the other is ejected at high speed. This discovery has fundamentally changed our understanding of processes at the galactic center.
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