The North Star, also known as Polaris, has been a subject of fascination for astronomers for centuries. However, despite its importance in navigation and as a reference point in the night sky, little was known about its surface until recently. Thanks to the CHARA Array on Mount Wilson in California, scientists have been able to capture high-resolution images of Polaris for the first time.
These images have revealed previously unknown features of the star, including discernable spots on its surface. This is a significant discovery, as it provides insight into the complex processes that occur within stars like Polaris. By studying these features, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how stars evolve and how they impact the universe around them.
Polaris is a Cepheid variable star, which means it brightens and dims periodically. This property makes it useful for cosmic distance measurements, as the period of its brightness fluctuations can be used to determine its distance from Earth. This has made Polaris an important tool for astronomers, as it allows them to measure distances to other celestial objects with greater accuracy.
The CHARA Array is a powerful tool for studying stars like Polaris. It consists of six telescopes that work together to create high-resolution images of stars. By combining the light from these telescopes, scientists are able to capture images with a resolution that is equivalent to that of a telescope with a diameter of 330 meters.
The images captured by the CHARA Array have provided scientists with a wealth of new information about Polaris. They have revealed the presence of spots on the star’s surface, which are thought to be caused by magnetic activity. These spots are similar to sunspots on our own sun, and their presence on Polaris suggests that the star has a complex magnetic field.
In addition to the spots, the images have also revealed the presence of bright regions on the star’s surface. These regions are thought to be caused by convection, which is the process by which hot material rises to the surface of a star and cooler material sinks back down. By studying these regions, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how convection works within stars.
Overall, the images captured by the CHARA Array have provided scientists with a wealth of new information about Polaris. They have revealed previously unknown features of the star, including spots and bright regions on its surface. By studying these features, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how stars like Polaris evolve and how they impact the universe around them.
