Astronomers have determined the age of the Milky Way
A group of scientists from Australia based on astroseismic activity determined the age of the Milky Way
The Milky Way has been an object of study for astrologers for centuries. Recently, Australian scientists managed to determine his age based on astroseismology data.
People cannot see seismic activity on stars, because they are very far away. But these phenomena can be estimated by fluctuations in their brightness. And information on the propagation of elastic waves in stars will help to understand their composition and age, reports Popular Mechanics.
The seismic activity of the stars was collected using the Kepler telescope during the second part of its mission.
The Milky Way consists of two parts - a thick (external) and thin (internal) disks. About 20% of the stars are in the thick disk. It is believed that their age difference reaches billions of years.
To find out how thick a disk is older than a thin one, scientists used a method known as astroseismology, a method for determining the internal structure of stars by measuring their oscillations as a result of seismic events.
“Earthquakes generate sound waves inside stars that make them vibrate,” explains co-author Dennis Stello of the University of New South Wales. The obtained oscillations and their frequencies tell us about the properties of stars, including their age. This is similar to the definition of a Stradivarius violin by its sound.”
The subject of study was the ratio of iron and hydrogen, which allows a fairly accurate estimate of the age of the star. Based on it, astronomers concluded that the average age of the stars of the thick disc is approximately 10 billion years.
The Milky Way has been an object of study for astrologers for centuries. Recently, Australian scientists managed to determine his age based on astroseismology data.
People cannot see seismic activity on stars, because they are very far away. But these phenomena can be estimated by fluctuations in their brightness. And information on the propagation of elastic waves in stars will help to understand their composition and age, reports Popular Mechanics.
The seismic activity of the stars was collected using the Kepler telescope during the second part of its mission.
The Milky Way consists of two parts - a thick (external) and thin (internal) disks. About 20% of the stars are in the thick disk. It is believed that their age difference reaches billions of years.
To find out how thick a disk is older than a thin one, scientists used a method known as astroseismology, a method for determining the internal structure of stars by measuring their oscillations as a result of seismic events.
“Earthquakes generate sound waves inside stars that make them vibrate,” explains co-author Dennis Stello of the University of New South Wales. The obtained oscillations and their frequencies tell us about the properties of stars, including their age. This is similar to the definition of a Stradivarius violin by its sound.”
The subject of study was the ratio of iron and hydrogen, which allows a fairly accurate estimate of the age of the star. Based on it, astronomers concluded that the average age of the stars of the thick disc is approximately 10 billion years.
