The Space-Based Time-Domain Revolution in Astrophysics

TL;DR

Space-based time-domain telescopes have revolutionized astrophysics by providing high-precision, continuous light curves that enable breakthroughs across stellar, galactic, transient, and solar system studies, fostering open data use and citizen science.

Contribution

This review highlights the transformative impact of space-based time-domain observations on multiple astrophysical fields and emphasizes the importance of open data and community involvement.

Findings

Stellar interiors and magnetic activity are now better understood.

Detection of dark galactic populations like black holes and neutron stars.

Insights into supernova progenitors and black hole accretion physics.

Abstract

Space-based time-domain telescopes such as CoRoT, Kepler/K2 and TESS have profoundly impacted astrophysics over the past two decades. Continuous light curves with high cadence and high photometric precision are now available for millions of sources within our galaxy and beyond. In addition to revolutionizing exoplanet science, the data have enabled breakthroughs ranging from the solar system to stellar interiors, the transient universe, and active galaxies. The key summary points of this review are: (1) Stellar astrophysics has been transformed by the ability to probe the internal structures of stars, test the physics of stellar convection, connect stellar rotation and magnetic activity, and reveal complex variability in young stars. (2) Ages of stellar populations probe the formation history of our Milky Way, and binary star variability enables the detection of "dark" galactic populations such as solar-mass black holes and neutron stars. (3) Early-time observations of explosive transients provide new insights into the progenitors of supernovae, while the quasi-periodic variability of galaxies probes the physics of accretion processes onto supermassive black holes and the tidal disruption of stars. (4) Observations of solar system objects reveal asteroid compositions through their rotation periods and amplitudes, constrain the cloud structure of ice giants, and allow the discovery of new objects in the outer solar system. (5) Open data policies and software have contributed to remarkable scientific productivity and enabled discoveries by citizen scientists, including new exoplanets and exotic variability in mature Sun-like stars.