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COROT directly sees ‘Sun-quakes’ in other stars for the first time

23 October 2008

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When looking at stars, COROT is able to detect ‘starquakes’, acoustical waves generated deep inside a star that send ripples across a star’s surface, altering its brightness. The exact nature of the ripples can allow astronomers to calculate the star's mass, age and even chemical composition.

This technique is known as asteroseismology and ESA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has been taking similar observations of the Sun for years.

Credits: CNES

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This artist's view shows the COROT satellite, consisting of a 27-centimetre space telescope. A mission led by CNES with ESA participation, it was launched in December 2006.

COROT uses its telescope to monitor closely the changes in a star’s brightness that comes from a planet crossing in front of it.

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