CX330

CX330 is an extremely isolated young stellar object located in the central bulge of the Milky Way, approximately 25,000 light-years from Earth. Identified in 2009 through its X-ray emission, it is the most isolated known young star, situated over 1,000 light-years from the nearest star-forming region. CX330 is a FU Orionis-type protostar undergoing episodic accretion outbursts, making it a unique laboratory for studying star formation in low-density environments.

Discovery

CX330 was first detected in 2009 during a deep X-ray survey of the Galactic Center conducted with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The source, cataloged as CXOGBS J173643.8-282122, displayed hard X-ray emission characteristic of magnetically active pre-main-sequence stars.
Follow-up infrared observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope and WISE revealed a dramatic brightening of over 2 magnitudes in the mid-infrared, confirming an accretion outburst. Other observations are done using the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea and Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment survey.