Roundest known Space Object discovered

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and the University of Gottingen in Germany have discovered the star Kepler 11145123, which is claimed to be the roundest natural object in space ever measured. The scientists have measured the stellar oblateness with unprecedented precision using asteroseismology.

Asteroseismology is the study of the oscillations of stars.

By using the technique, it has been found that the difference between the equatorial and polar radii of the star is only three kilometres (km). This has made Kepler 11145123 the roundest natural object ever measured which is even more round than the Sun. Kepler 11145123 is a hot and luminous star twice the size of the Sun and rotates at a pace which is three times slower than the Sun. In general, all stars rotate and therefore tend to become flattened by the centrifugal force. The faster the rotation more oblate the star becomes. NASA’s Kepler mission has been observing the star’s oscillations continuously for more than 4 years.