Asteroseismology

The study of the interior of a star through measuring waves that ripple across its surface. The waves are generated by the motions of giant bubbles of hot gas in a star's outer layer, known as the convective zone, which extends deep below the surface. The waves can travel all the way around the star, causing "jiggles" when they reach the surface. The individual waves can reveal details about the star's structure, interior temperatures, composition, and more. Astronomers measure the waves through tiny changes in the motion of a star's surface toward or away from Earth. Studying similar waves on the Sun is known as helioseismology.