Techniques for observing stellar oscillations

Abstract

Although stellar oscillations have been observed for more than two centuries, the demands of asteroseismology require new observations of substantially higher precision. Two major techniques are reviewed: Doppler spectroscopy and photometry. Fundamental limitations are described using the sun as a representative stellar target. The current state of the art is limited by lack of light in the case of Doppler methods and by atmospheric noise in the case of photometry. Prospects for improvements in both of these techniques are good and we may expect someday to be able to detect solar-like oscillations of stars as faint as 10th magnitude.