Astronomers identified 50 new heartbeat stars
using data from APOGEE and TESS, while a Singaporean family chronicled their 15 eclipse-chasing journeys in a self-published book, and a 2017 partial eclipse in Charlottesville drew thousands despite weather challenges.
The term Total Eclipse of the Heart
spans both cosmic phenomena and human passion, as revealed by three distinct but interconnected stories. Astronomers uncovered 50 new heartbeat stars
—binary systems where tidal forces create pulsating light patterns—while a Singaporean family documented their journey to witness total solar eclipses, and a 2017 partial eclipse in Charlottesville, Virginia, became a community event despite cloudy skies.
A Cosmic Heartbeat: Discovering Pulsating Stars
Researchers analyzing data from the SDSS APOGEE survey and NASA’s TESS telescope identified 50 new heartbeat stars,
binary systems where gravitational tides create periodic brightness spikes. These stars, with orbital periods between about 1.5 and 11 days, mimic the rhythmic patterns of an electrocardiogram (EKG), earning their name from the paper’s playful title, Astronomical Cardiology II: A Search For Heartbeat Stars Using APOGEE and TESS.
Of these, 14 systems exhibited eclipses, where the stars pass directly in front of each other, providing clearer insights into their orbits. Fifteen showed tidally excited oscillations, pulsations at exact multiples of their orbital frequency, offering a rare glimpse into stellar interiors. One system, TIC 72193860, hums at 27 times its orbital frequency, a phenomenon described as the star ringing like a bell.
The discovery relied on filtering APOGEE’s radial velocity data to identify stars with velocity changes of at least 3 km/s, signaling hidden companions. TESS then mapped their brightness variations, with over a million model fits analyzed to confirm candidates. The heart monitor itself is TESS, NASA’s all-sky planet hunter.
A Family’s Eclipse Obsession: From Tintin to Totality
Koh Joo Beng, 66, and his wife Janet Tay transformed their love for solar eclipses into a book titled Chasing Totality, detailing journeys across continents. Their quest began during military service, when a night sky glimpse sparked a lifelong fascination. You’re looking up at the sky and you see shapes that move. But it’s not the stars that are moving – you are,
Koh recalled, echoing the celestial dance that defines their hobby.
The couple’s travels included the 2008 Gobi Desert eclipse, the 2016 Tidore Island event, and the 2019 Singapore annular eclipse, where a diamond ring effect is seen. Their eldest son, Jared Koh, a 37-year-old manager in the public healthcare sector, is the first of the second-generation eclipse chasers,
noting that their journeys got the rest of the family involved, blending astronomy with adventure. I don’t think there’s a single eclipse I can go to without her. She’s the organiser,
Koh said, crediting his wife’s planning for their success.
Despite challenges—like missing the 2009 Shanghai eclipse due to clouds—their story underscores the blend of science and wonder. The closest I’ve come to this atavistic thrill – that the sun could be “stolen” – was when he heard thunderous clacking during a total solar eclipse in 2016 at Tidore Island in Indonesia,
Koh said, referencing local traditions that claim the noise drives away the dragon that is swallowing the Sun or Moon.
Charlottesville’s 2017 Partial Eclipse: A Community Effort
On August 21, 2017, the University of Virginia hosted a community viewing event, with the moon providing 86 percent coverage at peak. Students and faculty gathered on the Lawn, using H-alpha telescopes and projection devices to safely view the event. This is entirely just for the student body, so everyone can experience it because it’s a very rare event,
said Alison Lee, a third-year double major in astronomy and poetry.
The event faced weather hurdles, with rainclouds threatening visibility. Yet, as the storm cleared, excited viewers rushed back to witness the eclipse. It looks pretty cool through the telescope. It’s looks pretty red,
said Emmanuel Ndumbe, a first-year student studying systems engineering, describing the filtered view. The UVA Library distributed close to 100 pairs of eclipse glasses, with one director noting the unexpected popularity: I’ve seen a solar eclipse before, but I was a kid. This Sunspotter actually was the surprise for me because it’s just an image, but it’s a great view. It’s so much bigger than what you see through the glasses.
The eclipse also served as a historical reference. Astronomy graduate student Andrew Burkhardt highlighted its significance: It was actually during an eclipse in the early 1900s that astronomers were able to prove Einstein’s theory of relativity.
The event reinforced the enduring appeal of celestial phenomena.
What’s Next? The Future of Eclipse Chasing and Stellar Research
For astronomers, the discovery of heartbeat stars opens new avenues to study tidal forces and stellar evolution. The 50 confirmed systems provide data to study tides in stars. Meanwhile, eclipse chasers like Koh continue planning future journeys, with an upcoming eclipse passing over Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
As technology advances, tools like TESS and APOGEE will likely uncover more cosmic heartbeat stars, while amateur astronomers and families keep the human connection alive. Whether through telescopes or personal stories, the pursuit remains a bridge between the vastness of space and the intimacy of shared wonder.
