SDSS J160429.12+100002.2 spectra

Assuming a luminosity that is characteristic of BHB stars, the object's radial velocity and proper motions from Gaia Early Data Release 3 would imply that its Galactic rest-frame velocity exceeds its local escape velocity. Consequently, the object would be considered a hypervelocity star, which would prove particularly interesting because its Galactic trajectory points in our direction.

However, based on the spectroscopic analysis of follow-up observations, we show that the object is actually a short-period (P~3.4h) single-lined spectroscopic binary system with a visible B-type star (effective temperature Teff=15840+/-160K and surface gravity log(g)=4.86+/-0.04) that is less luminous than typical BHB stars. Accordingly, the distance of the system is lower than originally thought, which renders its Galactic orbit bound to the Galaxy.