A groundbreaking study unveils the presence of three ancient stars near the Milky Way’s edge, possibly among the oldest ever discovered. These celestial entities, possibly formed shortly after the Big Bang, may have been captured by our galaxy during cosmic interactions billions of years ago.
### Discovery of Ancient Celestial Objects
Published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society on May 14, the study reanalyzed three stars located in the Milky Way’s halo, approximately 30,000 light-years from Earth. Their chemical composition suggests an age between 12 and 13 billion years, placing them among the universe’s earliest inhabitants.
### Origins and Trajectories
Dubbed Small Accreted Stellar System (SASS) stars, these ancient entities are believed to have originated outside our galaxy. Trajectory analysis suggests they were likely “stolen” during gravitational interactions as the Milky Way passed neighboring galaxies billions of years ago.
### Insights and Implications
Anna Frebel, senior author of the study and a stellar astrophysicist at MIT, describes these stars as “part of our cosmic family tree.” The discovery provides a unique opportunity for direct study, offering insights into the universe’s infancy. The revelation indicates the likelihood of more such stars awaiting discovery along the galaxy’s periphery.
### Methodology and Future Research
The discovery stemmed from data analysis conducted by students in an MIT class led by Frebel. By examining historical data from the Magellan-Clay Telescopes, the team identified the stars’ unusual chemical compositions, characterized by low heavy metal content. Further research will explore additional retrograde stars with similar compositions to determine their nature and origin.
The identification of these ancient stars offers a glimpse into the early universe’s dynamics and may shed light on the Milky Way’s complex history of cosmic interactions.
