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

Space Science

About Space Science ESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depth

Multimedia

Science images Science videos Animations Downloads Sounds from space

Media centre

Press Releases Press kits ESA Television

Resources

Reference section Glossary FAQs

Science missions

Services

Help Legal disclaimer Comments Subscribe

RSS feeds

ESA Sci on Twitter

Article Images

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

23 October 2008

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES JPEG (Size: 104 kb)

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

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1087 kb)

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.

Searching for exoplanets

COROT discovery stirs exoplanet classification rethink COROT finds exoplanet orbiting Sun-like star ESA‘s roadmap to Earth-like planets Exoplanet hunt update COROT surprises a year after launch COROT discovers its first exoplanet and catches scientists by surprise COROT started its science mission COROT enters fine-pointing mode COROT sees first light!The European dimension of COROT: An interview with Fabio Favata

How many planets are outside our Solar System?How to find an extrasolar planet Planet discoverer: An interview with Didier Queloz How do 'waterworlds' form?Searching for planets with life