NASA's TESS Reveals Ages of 132,000 Red Giant Stars

Astronomy

NASA's TESS Reveals Ages of 132,000 Red Giant Stars

Ages of 132,000 Red Giants Estimated Using TESS Data

From

Arxiv

NASA's TESS mission has vastly expanded the catalog of oscillating red giant stars, enabling more precise age estimates for these stars. This larger dataset helps astronomers better understand the history and evolution of our galaxy.

Why it matters: TESS increased the sample of oscillating red giants by about ten times, improving stellar age studies.

The big picture: Accurate ages of ~133,000 red giants help reconstruct the Milky Way's formation and evolution over time.

Stunning stat: Age estimates have an average uncertainty of just 23%, validated for up to 90% of stars measured.

Quick takeaway: Custom stellar models provide reliable ages for a large new red giant sample, aiding galactic archaeology research.