The discovery of CWISE J1249 was made by Martin Kabatnik, Thomas P. Bickle, and Dan Caselden, who were participating in the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project. The project utilizes data from NASA’s WISE mission, which mapped the sky in infrared light from 2009 to 2011. The citizen scientists spotted a faint, fast-moving object in the WISE images.
Subsequent observations with several ground-based telescopes confirmed the object’s rapid movement. It is traveling at a speed of approximately 1 million miles per hour, which is so fast that it will eventually escape the Milky Way’s gravitational pull and enter intergalactic space.
CWISE J1249 presents a challenge for classification as its low mass makes it difficult to definitively categorize as either a star or a brown dwarf. Brown dwarfs are substellar objects that are too massive to be considered planets but are not massive enough to sustain hydrogen fusion in their cores like true stars. Studies have shown that CWISE J1249 has a much lower metallicity than other stars and brown dwarfs. This implies that it could be one of the oldest objects in our galaxy, possibly from one of the first generations of stars.
The significance of this discovery extends beyond the object’s rapid movement. It highlights the valuable contributions that amateur astronomers can make to scientific research. The Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project encourages volunteers to search for new objects in the outer solar system and beyond, resulting in numerous discoveries. NASA currently supports 28 other citizen science initiatives, demonstrating the power of collaborative efforts between professional scientists and the public.
“The detection of CWISE J1249 also puts into focus the importance of infrared astronomy,” said the NASA team. “The WISE mission, which provided the data for this discovery, was designed to survey the entire sky in infrared light, revealing objects that are otherwise hidden from view.”Infrared observations are especially useful for studying cool, faint objects like brown dwarfs and distant stars, which emit most of their light in the infrared part of the spectrum. As CWISE J1249 continues its journey out of the Milky Way, it will provide astronomers with a unique opportunity to study the properties of ancient, low-mass objects. The data collected from this object will help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of stars and brown dwarfs in our galaxy.
“The success of the citizen scientists involved in this discovery will inspire future participatory science projects,” said the NASA team. “It encourages more people to engage with and contribute to the field of astronomy.”
The collaboration between NASA and its citizen scientists has once again proven fruitful, leading to a discovery that not only advances our knowledge of the cosmos but also showcases the potential of public involvement in scientific research.
“As we continue to explore the universe, the contributions of dedicated amateur astronomers will undoubtedly play a crucial role in uncovering new and exciting phenomena,” added the NASA team.