RX J0822−4300

RX J0822−4300, often referred to as a "Cosmic Cannonball", is a radio-quiet neutron star currently moving away from the center of the Puppis A supernova remnant at 672±115 km/s, making it one of the fastest moving stars ever found.^[3] Earlier, it was believed to move with speed as high as 1,500 km/s. Astronomers used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to observe the star over a period of 11 years to determine its speed.^[3]

RX J0822−4300

motion of the neutron star RX J0822−4300 from the Puppis A supernova event.
Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation	Puppis[1]
Right ascension	08h 22m 26.84s[2]
Declination	−43° 10′ 26.2″[2]
Astrometry
Distance	2,000[citation needed] pc
Galactic coordinates	260.3841 −03.4718
Other designations
PSR J0822−4300, 1RXS J082158.2−430022
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Although the cosmic cannonball is not the only hypervelocity star discovered, it is unique in the apparent origin of its speed. Others may have derived theirs from a gravitational slingshot around the Milky Way's suspected supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. Current theories fail to explain how such speeds can be attained from a supernova explosion. It could be a possible quark star.

See also

• Puppis A or SNR 260.4−3.4

External links

Media related to RX J0822-4300 at Wikimedia Commons

• "Cosmic Canonball: One Of The Fastest Stars Ever Seen Challenges Astronomy Theories", ScienceDaily, (2007)
• "Chandra Discovers a Cosmic Cannonball", Science@NASA (28 October 2007)
• Chandra X-Ray Observatory, "RX J0822-4300 in Puppis A: Chandra Discovers Cosmic Cannonball", 28 November 2007
• "RX J0822−4300". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.