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Are there any stars/star systems in outer space that do not appear to belong to a galaxy?

Question #151265. Asked by odo5435.
Last updated Jun 15 2024.
Originally posted Jun 15 2024 7:09 AM.

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elburcher star
Answer has 2 votes
elburcher star
24 year member
1523 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.
Although stars cannot form in the voids between galaxies (since the density of matter is far too low), there are in fact large numbers of 'intergalactic stars'. It has been estimated, for example, that 10 per cent of the mass of the Virgo galaxy cluster is in the form of these stellar interlopers.

How they got there is still a matter of debate, but there are two possible processes, both resulting from gravitational interactions. First, stars can be expelled from their parent galaxy if it collides, merges or passes close to another galaxy. Second, if a star has a close encounter with a supermassive black hole (usually residing at the galactic center), it can be accelerated to extremely high velocities, eventually leaving its parent galaxy altogether.

link https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/are-there-any-stars-between-galaxies

Response last updated by elburcher on Jun 15 2024.
Jun 15 2024, 8:53 AM
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