OUT OF THIS WORLD : Astronomers See Farthest Star

BALTIMORE — Astronomers have spotted the most distant known star in the Milky Way, and say the accidental discovery could help determine the total mass of the galaxy.

The galaxy’s mass includes mysterious invisible matter that astronomers know exists but are unable to identify, an astronomer with the Space Telescope Science Institute said Tuesday.

“Astronomers suspect that there is a lot of additional material surrounding our galaxy that doesn’t give off light,” said Howard Bond, who along with two others discovered the distant star last spring.

“We don’t know the mass of the Milky Way, but if we can find objects that are far out and measure their speed, it will help us determine the galaxy’s total mass--the visible areas and the dark areas.”