Imaging the Surface of Altair

2007306 citationsJournal Articlegreen Open Access

Authors

John D. Monnier · University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Ming Zhao · California Institute of Technology

E. Pedretti · California Institute of Technology

N. Thureau · California Institute of Technology

Michael Ireland · Cornell University

Philip S. Muirhead · University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Jean-Philippe Berger

Abstract

Spatially resolving the surfaces of nearby stars promises to advance our knowledge of stellar physics. Using optical long-baseline interferometry, we constructed a near-infrared image of the rapidly rotating hot star Altair with a resolution of <1 milliarcsecond. The image clearly reveals the strong effect of gravity darkening on the highly distorted stellar photosphere. Standard models for a uniformly rotating star cannot explain our findings, which appear to result from differential rotation, alternative gravity-darkening laws, or both.

Topics & Keywords

Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae

Publication Details

Published in: Science

Volume 317, Issue 5836, pp. 342-345

DOI: 10.1126/science.1143205

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 13.13

Command Palette

Imaging the Surface of Altair

Authors

Abstract

Topics & Keywords

Publication Details