{"id":273045,"date":"2025-08-26T01:06:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T15:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/tess\/astronomers-map-stellar-polka-dots-using-nasas-tess-kepler\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T01:06:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T15:06:35","slug":"astronomers-map-stellar-polka-dots-using-nasas-tess-kepler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=273045","title":{"rendered":"Astronomers Map Stellar \u2018Polka Dots\u2019 Using NASA\u2019s TESS, Kepler"},"content":{"rendered":"
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5 min read<\/p>\n

Astronomers Map Stellar \u2018Polka Dots\u2019 Using NASA\u2019s TESS, Kepler<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Scientists have devised a new method for mapping the spottiness of distant stars by using observations from NASA missions of orbiting planets crossing their stars\u2019 faces. The model builds on a technique researchers have used for decades to study star spots.<\/p>\n

By improving astronomers\u2019 understanding of spotty stars, the new model \u2014 called StarryStarryProcess \u2014 can help discover more about planetary atmospheres and potential habitability using data from telescopes like NASA\u2019s upcoming Pandora<\/a> mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the models researchers use to analyze data from exoplanets, or worlds beyond our solar system, assume that stars are uniformly bright disks,\u201d said Sabina Sagynbayeva, a graduate student at Stony Brook University<\/a> in New York. \u201cBut we know just by looking at our own Sun that stars are more complicated than that. Modeling complexity can be difficult, but our approach gives astronomers an idea of how many spots a star might have, where they are located, and how bright or dark they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

A paper describing StarryStarryProcess, led by Sagynbayeva, published<\/a> Monday, August 25, in The Astrophysical Journal.<\/p>\n

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