Breakthrough on Perplexing Pulsating Stars
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Text, News From The Universe. June 8, 2020
Breakthrough on Perplexing Pulsating Stars
Astronomers have detected elusive pulsation patterns in young, rapidly rotating Delta Scuti stars.
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Previously, the complex pulsations of Delta Scuti stars seemed like an unorganized jumble.
The stars pulse symmetrically, while hemispheres also take turns expanding and contracting, making understanding the pulses difficult.
Data from NASA's TESS mission showed regular patterns in some star's pulses.
The tiny fluctuations in brightness were used to determine the star's age, temperature, composition, and internal structure.
The breakthrough is the first step in a new understanding of this complex type of star.
This news was brought to you in part by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD