Overview

• Astronomers have confirmed that magnetar SGR 0501+4516 is a runaway neutron star moving independently within the Milky Way.
• Decade-long observations using Hubble and Gaia revealed its motion does not align with the HB9 supernova remnant, disproving a traditional supernova origin.
• The magnetar may have formed through alternative mechanisms, such as neutron star mergers or accretion-induced collapse of a white dwarf in a binary system.
• These findings suggest magnetars can form in older stellar populations, potentially explaining the origins of some fast radio bursts.
• The study highlights the importance of precise, long-term astrophysical measurements in uncovering the origins of extreme cosmic objects.