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First science results from the MOST mission
The science team for the Microvariability and Oscillations of STars
mission (which we fondly refer to as Canada's "Humble" space telescope :-) have announced their first science results: - In the 1 July 2004 issue of Nature (http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/dynapa...995/index.html), the MOST science team report a negative detection result, after searching for p-mode (pressure-mode) oscillations in Procyon ("No stellar p-mode oscillations in space-based photometry of Procyon," Matthews et al.; see http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/medi...mr-04-064.html for UBC's p[ress release.) This is a surprising and controversial result, since previous observers have reported detection of p-mode oscillations in Procyon, based on spectroscopic observations (which are sensitive to radial motion of the star's surface as it oscillates). MOST makes photometric observations (which are sensitive to changes in brightness at the star's surface as it oscillates), with a sensitivity of roughly 1 part per million; based on existing theory relating the expected relative amplitude of p-mode spectroscopic and photometric signatures, the MOST team had expected to see a positive detection result for Procyon. This negative result may call into question the previous positive detection report, and if so may lead to a re-thinking of how Procyon-like stars oscillate in response to turbulent processes at their surface; however, there are other possible explanations as well. Stay tuned, as the astronomers check out what's behind this! - At the Canadian Astronomical Society's CASCA 2004 conference on 15 June, (http://www3.physics.umanitoba.ca/CASCA/english/), MOST PI Jaymie Matthews announced the detection using MOST data of p-mode oscillations in eta Bootis (see http://www.astro.ubc.ca/MOST/milestones/June2004_2.html for UBC's press release), similar to p-mode oscillations seen in our Sun. This is the first *photometric* detection of p-mode oscillations in any star other than our Sun (a spectroscopic p-mode oscillation detection for eta Boo had been reported earlier), which confirms that stellar p-mode oscillations *can* be detected photometrically (which should help in deciding what weight to give to the Procyon negative detection). - Kieran A. Carroll (once-upon-a-time MOST systems engineer/project manager) Dynacon (MOST prime contractor) |
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First science results from the MOST mission
Kieran A. Carroll wrote:
The science team for the Microvariability and Oscillations of STars mission (which we fondly refer to as Canada's "Humble" space telescope :-) have announced their first science results: - In the 1 July 2004 issue of Nature (http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/dynapa...995/index.html), the MOST science team report a negative detection result, after searching for p-mode (pressure-mode) oscillations in Procyon ("No stellar p-mode oscillations in space-based photometry of Procyon," Matthews et al.; The whole Nature article is available here http://www.astro.ubc.ca/MOST/papers/nature02671.pdf if you don't have a full access to the journal |
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