Asteroseismology - University of Birmingham

Asteroseismology is the study of stars by observation of their gentle oscillations, the natural resonances of the stars. It provides us with a unique window on normally hidden interiors of the stars and an ability to paint an exquisite portrait of the properties and characteristics of the stars, and any planets they may host.

We are also using asteroseismology to characterise stars at greater distances in our Galaxy, old Suns or so called “red giant” stars. They allow us to act as Galactic Archaeologists, allowing forensic studies of the history and evolution of our Galaxy, the Milky Way.

Led by Professor William Chaplin, we are playing a leading international role in the field of asteroseismology.

Asteroseismology at Birmingham and the NASA TESS mission

Did you know that stars in the night sky play their own stellar symphonies, gently resonating like musical instruments? At the University of Birmingham, we’re studying stars by observing these natural resonances, known as the field of asteroseismology. Characterising the stars also allows us to characterise the planets we discover orbiting them. Stars carry records of how our Milky Way Galaxy has evolved, which we can examine. Asteroseismologists at Birmingham, led by Professor William Chaplin, are playing a leading international role in this exciting field, including NASA's new Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Over the next two years, TESS will provide a census of stars in our solar neighbourhood, many of which are familiar and identifiable from Earth. The study of other stars and planets in our Galaxy allows us to better understand our place in the Universe. How many stellar systems in the Galaxy might also have planets capable of harbouring life, like the precious planet we live on?

Asteroseismology at Birmingham and the NASA TESS mission

Transcript

Did you know that stars in the night sky play their own stellar symphonies gently resonating like musical instruments? The University of Birmingham is studying stars by observing these natural resonances known as the field of asteroseismology, characterising the stars also allows us to characterise the planets we discover orbiting them. Stars carry records of how our Milky Way galaxy has evolved which we can examine. This makes us galactic archaeologists. Stars resonate like a wind instrument when it is being played. Sound is made naturally in the outermost layers of cool stars this sound is trapped with some sound waves reaching all the way to the centres of stars. We detect the gentle pulsations by measuring periodic changes in the brightness of stars. They get slightly hotter and brighter as they contract. As they relax they cool and dim by studying the stars in this way asteroseismologists are able to accurately determine their size, mass, age and even their internal structure, which would otherwise remain hidden. Studying the stars also helps us build up a much more complete picture of the planets which orbit them. By understanding more about a star we can know whether any planets found in orbit around it are similar to our Earth with the potential to support life.

Asteroseismology allows us to use stars as galactic rulers because we can measure how far away they are from us and as clocks because we can measure their ages. We can then perform archaeological studies of the history and evolution of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Learning where and when stars with different chemical elements form in our galaxy will also enable us to place the Sun and planet-hosting stars in a wider context.

Observing stars from satellites in space allows us to gather a wealth of detailed information. Birmingham is part of the transiting exoplanet survey satellite, TESS, NASA's new exoplanet and stellar astrophysics mission. TESS will survey the brightest stars across the sky to detect thousands of planets orbiting the stars and to study the stars themselves. Over the next two years.

TESS will provide a census of the stars in our solar neighbourhood many of which are familiar and identifiable from Earth. The study of other stars and planets in our galaxy allows us to better understand our place in the universe. How many stellar systems in the galaxy might also have planets capable of harbouring life like the precious planet we live on.