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Scientists study some of the universe's earliest objects (stars that formed soon after the Big Bang as they provide valuable information on how our universe evolved from its earliest days, through the formation of the first elements, to the eventual formation of galaxies such as the Milky Way over time. Stars that are referred to as "Population II", or older, contain mostly hydrogen and helium as opposed to many heavy elements that are present in more recent stars.
When estimating the age of an ancient star, astronomers estimate based on a number of properties including the element composition, brightness, and motion.
Furthermore, these ancient stars can serve as non-biological time capsules that can help provide us with additional data to enhance our efforts to understand the cosmic history of our universe and gain a greater appreciation for the amazing discoveries made in modern science.
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Which is the Oldest Star in the Universe?
HD 140283, better known as the “Methuselah Star”, is a leading candidate for the title of "Oldest Star". It is located roughly 200 light-years away and classified as a very old star in our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
When this star was first measured, estimates put its age around 14.5 billion years old, which created some controversy because that age would imply that the star predates the Universe's age.
More accurate measurements today range this star's age between 12-14 billion years old, which is consistent with the age of the Universe.
Interesting Facts about the Methuselah Star
HD 140283 is a very old star by current estimates, and is around 12 billion years old. This makes it one of the oldest stars that we know of within the observable universe today.
As an incredibly old star, this star has very low levels of heavy elements (iron and carbon), which were present in the universe shortly after the big bang when the universe was comprised mostly of hydrogen and helium.
The Methuselah Star does not lie within the main disk of the Milky Way galaxy. Instead, it travels along the galactic halo, suggesting that it formed early on in the history of galaxy formation.
The star is located roughly 190 - 200 light years away from us. Although incredibly old, in terms of cosmic distance, it is considered to be relatively close enough to allow us to study it using telescopes.
While the star was initially estimated to be older than the universe, its age has since been corrected due to improved measurements. The revised estimates indicate that it is about 13.77 billion years old, or roughly 1.03 billion years younger than the 13.8 billion year age of the universe as a whole.
