HVGC-1
Hypervelocity globular cluster in the constellation Virgo
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HVGC-1 is the first discovered hypervelocity globular cluster.[2] Discovered in 2014, it was found escaping the supergiant elliptical galaxy Messier 87,[3] in the Virgo Cluster.[1] It is one of thousands of globular clusters found in M87.[4] It is the first hypervelocity star cluster so far discovered.[5] The globular is located at decimal degrees (RA, DEC) (187.72791°, +12.68295°).[1]
| HVGC-1 [1] | |
|---|---|
| Observation data (J2000.0[1] epoch) | |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 12h 30m 54.70s [1] |
| Declination | +12° 40′ 58.61″ [1] |
| Distance | 54 Mly (16.5 Mpc [1]) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Metallicity | [Fe/H] = −0.9±0.3 [1] dex |
| Notable features | First discovered hypervelocity globular cluster |
| Other designations | HVGC-1,[1] H70848,[1] M87 H70848[1] |
Properties
The object was observed to have an outlier velocity, ending with a determined radial velocity of −1026±13 km/s. In relation to M87, its velocity was determined to be 2100–2300 km/s. The cluster's velocity is so high that it will escape the Virgo Cluster as well.[1]
The cluster's velocity is thought to originate by being ejected by the supermassive black hole at the center of M87, when the black hole stripped the outer layers of HVGC-1 off, it also ejected the remaining core with greater than escape velocity.[2]