VLT finds a brilliant but solitary superstar
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - 05:00
in Astronomy & Space
(PhysOrg.com) -- An extraordinarily bright isolated star has been found in a nearby galaxy -- the star is three million times brighter than the Sun. All previous similar "superstars" were found in star clusters, but this brilliant beacon shines in solitary splendour. The origin of this star is mysterious: did it form in isolation or was it ejected from a cluster? Either option challenges astronomersÂ’ understanding of star formation.