Knowra Asteroseismology Asteroseismology Asteroseismology studies oscillations in stars to infer their internal structure, composition, and evolution. It applies methods analogous to terrestrial seismology to stellar vibrations.
Stellar oscillation : A periodic variation in a star’s shape, brightness, or velocity caused by waves moving through its interior. These vibrations are the signals asteroseismology measures and interprets.
Stellar mass : The amount of matter contained in a star. Oscillation-based scaling relations provide mass estimates for stars with few other constraints.
Stellar structure : The distribution of pressure, temperature, density, and composition inside a star. Oscillation behavior depends on the star’s underlying structure.
Kepler space telescope : A NASA space telescope that monitored stellar brightness to discover exoplanets and study stars. Its long, precise light curves enabled asteroseismology across thousands of stars.
Convective overshoot : The penetration of convective motions beyond the formal boundary of a stellar convection zone. Its uncertain extent changes core sizes and affects seismic inferences of stellar evolution.
Pressure mode : A stellar oscillation in which pressure acts as the restoring force, producing acoustic waves. Pressure modes probe stellar envelopes and, in some stars, reach the core.
Stellar radius : The distance from a star’s center to its visible surface. Oscillation amplitudes and frequency spacings help determine stellar radii.
Hydrostatic equilibrium : A balance in which pressure gradients counteract gravity within a fluid body. It defines the equilibrium state around which stellar oscillations occur.
CoRoT : A French-led space telescope that observed stellar oscillations and searched for exoplanets. CoRoT delivered early space-based measurements of oscillations in Sun-like stars.
Internal rotation : The variation of angular velocity with depth or latitude inside a star. Frequency splittings reveal rotation, but its transport and history remain incompletely understood.
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