Discovery of an Unbound Hyper-Velocity Star in the Milky Way Halo

Abstract

We have discovered a star, SDSS J090745.0+024507, leaving the Galaxy with a heliocentric radial velocity of +853+-12 km/s, the largest velocity ever observed in the Milky Way halo. The star is either a hot blue horizontal branch star or a B9 main sequence star with a heliocentric distance ~55 kpc. Corrected for the solar reflex motion and to the local standard of rest, the Galactic rest-frame velocity is +709 km/s. Because its radial velocity vector points 173.8 deg from the Galactic center, we suggest that this star is the first example of a hyper-velocity star ejected from the Galactic center as predicted by Hills and later discussed by Yu & Tremaine. The star has [Fe/H]~0, consistent with a Galactic center origin, and a travel time of <80 Myr from the Galactic center, consistent with its stellar lifetime. If the star is indeed traveling from the Galactic center, it should have a proper motion of 0.3 mas/yr observable with GAIA. Identifying additional hyper-velocity stars throughout the halo will constrain the production rate history of hyper-velocity stars at the Galactic center.