Questions concerning hypervelocity stars

[Travito]

Hey everybody, I'm new here and what better way to start then jump right in! I have a few questions concerning hypervelocity stars for a sci fi book that I want to write.

First of all, what is the agreed upon "average" speed of a hypervelocity star? I have done a bit of googling, but I have seen a lot of different numbers. Would 1000km/s be about right?

Secondly, I have read that some hypervelocity stars are thought to have originated in the Magellanic Clouds. Which one would be more likely to produce hypervelocity stars? The LMC or the SMC?

Thirdly and finally, given the speed and the distance of the LMC/SMC, how long would it take a hypervelocity star to reach Earth? I know this would never happen, but keep in mind it's just for a sci fi novel :P

Thank you all for your help and I look forward to being a member of these forums :) Merry Christmas!

Travito

 

[DaveC426913]

Which one would be more likely to produce hypervelocity stars? The LMC or the SMC?

Can't imagine it would make any difference.

Thirdly and finally, given the speed and the distance of the LMC/SMC, how long would it take a hypervelocity star to reach Earth?

You know the distance to LMC, and you know the velocity you've chosen, so it;s a pretty straightforward calc.

 

[Radrook]

Why do you say it can never happen?

 

[qraal]

Hey everybody, I'm new here and what better way to start then jump right in! I have a few questions concerning hypervelocity stars for a sci fi book that I want to write.

First of all, what is the agreed upon "average" speed of a hypervelocity star? I have done a bit of googling, but I have seen a lot of different numbers. Would 1000km/s be about right?

Secondly, I have read that some hypervelocity stars are thought to have originated in the Magellanic Clouds. Which one would be more likely to produce hypervelocity stars? The LMC or the SMC?

Thirdly and finally, given the speed and the distance of the LMC/SMC, how long would it take a hypervelocity star to reach Earth? I know this would never happen, but keep in mind it's just for a sci fi novel :P

Thank you all for your help and I look forward to being a member of these forums :) Merry Christmas!

Travito

From what I have read hyper velocity stars have been flung out of the Galactic core. I guess they might be easier to see in the LMC/SMC. The Magellanic Clouds are about 168,000 (LMC) & 225,000 ly (SMC) away. At 1,000 km/s you're traveling at 300 years per light-year, thus it's 56,000,000 years & 75,000,000 years flight time respectively.

 

[Radrook]

Most HVS are thought to have been hurled out from the galactic core-not all.

 

[Chronos]

Hypervelocity stars can originate from any part of any galaxy. They are usually associated with supernova kicks. Some are also due to black hole slingshots. The ones that originate near galactic cores are typically easier to detect.

 

[DaveC426913]

Why do you say it can never happen?

What? I didn't say that; I said LMC is as likely as SMC. Doesn't make a diff which one you choose.

 

[Radrook]

What? I didn't say that; I said LMC is as likely as SMC. Doesn't make a diff which one you choose.

Travito said that he knows a supervelocity star could never reach Earth and I asked why he thinks that's impossible.

 

[DaveC426913]

Travito said that he knows a supervelocity star could never reach Earth and I asked why he thinks that's impossible.

Oh. Well, that's why quoting is helpful.

I guess he was just heading off the standard responses saying 'this is so fabulously unlikely that it's not a realistic scenario'.

 

[Radrook]

Oh. Well, that's why quoting is helpful.

I guess he was just heading off the standard responses saying 'this is so fabulously unlikely that it's not a realistic scenario'.

It only becomes a realistic scenario when it happens.