Scientists Discover Fastest Planetary System in Milky Way

Astronomers have identified a high-velocity star and a potential exoplanet moving through the Milky Way at speeds exceeding 1.2 million miles per hour, which could mark the fastest planetary system ever observed. This pair was initially detected in 2011 via microlensing, a technique that allows for the observation of distant objects by exploiting the bending of light through gravitational fields. Recent studies suggest the star has about one-fifth the mass of the Sun and is located approximately 24,000 light-years from Earth. While the presence of a 'super-Neptune' exoplanet has yet to be confirmed, astronomers speculate it might orbit at a distance akin to that of Venus or Earth in our solar system. If this star's speed exceeds 1.3 million miles per hour, it may eventually escape the Milky Way, carrying its companion with it. Further observations are planned to verify the characteristics and trajectory of this intriguing system.