Editor's Summary
13 April 2006
Falling standards
Vega, the second brightest star visible in the northern hemisphere, is used by astronomers as a standard against which other stars are calibrated. The intensity of light throughout its spectrum is known precisely, linking brightness and energy output. But there have been problems with conclusions drawn from such comparisons, leading to suggestions that Vega is a distorted, rapidly rotating star seen pole-on. Peterson et al. now report that Vega is indeed rapidly rotating, and is seen almost pole-on. This resolves the earlier problems, but adds uncertainty to Vega's age and raises the possibility that its debris disk could be much older than was thought.
News and Views: Astrophysics: A whirling dervish
Vega is a fundamental reference star for astronomers. But it seems that our perceptions of it have been misconceived — rather than spinning slowly, the star is a rapid rotator seen pole-on.
Richard Gray
doi:10.1038/440873a
Letter: Vega is a rapidly rotating star
D. M. Peterson, C. A. Hummel, T. A. Pauls, J. T. Armstrong, J. A. Benson, G. C. Gilbreath, R. B. Hindsley, D. J. Hutter, K. J. Johnston, D. Mozurkewich and H. R. Schmitt
doi:10.1038/nature04661
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