Imaging the Surface of Altair

J. D. Monnier; M. Zhao; E. Pedretti; N. Thureau; M. Ireland; P. Muirhead; J.-P. Berger; R. Millan-Gabet; G. Van Belle; T. ten Brummelaar; H. McAlister; S. Ridgway; N. Turner; L. Sturmann; J. Sturmann; D. Berger

doi:10.1126/science.1143205

Imaging the Surface of Altair

J. D. Monnier, M. Zhao, E. Pedretti, N. Thureau, M. Ireland, P. Muirhead, J.-P. Berger, R. Millan-Gabet, G. Van Belle, T. ten Brummelaar, H. McAlister, S. Ridgway, N. Turner, L. Sturmann, J. Sturmann, D. Berger

School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

277 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	342-345
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	317
Issue number	5836
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1143205
Publication status	Published - 20 Jul 2007

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title = "Imaging the Surface of Altair",

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.",

author = "Monnier, {J. D.} and M. Zhao and E. Pedretti and N. Thureau and M. Ireland and P. Muirhead and J.-P. Berger and R. Millan-Gabet and {Van Belle}, G. and {ten Brummelaar}, T. and H. McAlister and S. Ridgway and N. Turner and L. Sturmann and J. Sturmann and D. Berger",

year = "2007",

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day = "20",

doi = "10.1126/science.1143205",

language = "English",

volume = "317",

pages = "342--345",

journal = "Science",

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publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Imaging the Surface of Altair

AU - Monnier, J. D.

AU - Zhao, M.

AU - Pedretti, E.

AU - Thureau, N.

AU - Ireland, M.

AU - Muirhead, P.

AU - Berger, J.-P.

AU - Millan-Gabet, R.

AU - Van Belle, G.

AU - ten Brummelaar, T.

AU - McAlister, H.

AU - Ridgway, S.

AU - Turner, N.

AU - Sturmann, L.

AU - Sturmann, J.

AU - Berger, D.

PY - 2007/7/20

Y1 - 2007/7/20

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1126/science.1143205

DO - 10.1126/science.1143205

M3 - Article

C2 - 17540860

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 317

SP - 342

EP - 345

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5836

ER -

Imaging the Surface of Altair

Abstract

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