Tag

Stellar Rotation

All articles tagged with #stellar rotation

astronomy2 years ago

Cracking the Age Code: Astronomers Unveil Innovative Method to Determine Star Ages

Astronomers have developed a new method to determine the age of stars by studying their rotation rates. By analyzing wide binary stars, which have independent rotations, researchers were able to match the ages of the binary pairs using temperature and rotation rate. This approach proved effective regardless of the stars' metallicity, suggesting that rotation can be a reliable measure of stellar age. This technique could be applied to single stars, binary systems, and star clusters, allowing astronomers to accurately determine the ages of billions of stars and study their motion and planetary systems.

astronomy2 years ago

"Consistent Rotational Evolution: A Reliable Age Indicator for Open Cluster and Field Stars"

Scientists have established a connection between the rotation rates of stars in star clusters and field stars, allowing for the determination of ages for the latter. This method, known as gyrochronology, measures the rotation period of a star by observing the dips in its brightness caused by dark spots on its surface. By comparing the rotation periods of stars in clusters with their colors, a pattern emerges that can be used to estimate their ages. The study found that this method also works for field stars, providing a reliable way to determine the ages of a larger number of stars.