2008/11/04 by Warren R. Brown, Brown, Warren R.
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Mechanics and Biomechanics Studies #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0811.0571
openalex publication_date 2008/11/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A summary of the current knowledge on hypervelocity stars (HVSs). HVSs are fascinating because their properties are linked to Sgr A* and the stellar environment of the Galactic Center. Observing the distribution of HVSs can address: 1) the nature of the black hole ejection mechanism, 2) the in-fall history of stars onto Sgr A*, 3) the types of stars orbiting Sgr A*, and 4) a unique measurement the shape of the Galaxy's dark matter potential. The challenge to observers is to find new HVSs and strengthen the connection between HVSs and the Galactic Center.