Holocene
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Is it possible to have a star drifting through intergalactic space?
Stars can drift through intergalactic space, although they are difficult to detect. They do not form outside galaxies or globular clusters; instead, they become unbound during galaxy interactions, such as mergers, where they gain sufficient velocity to escape the gravitational pull of their host galaxy. Additionally, 'rogue' stars can be ejected from the Milky Way due to interactions with the supermassive black hole at its center, which can fling stars from binary systems at high velocities. Currently, about five such rogue stars have been confirmed.
PREREQUISITESAstronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in stellar dynamics and galaxy interactions will benefit from this discussion.