Dr. Orlagh Creevey
Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, Nice, France
Abstract: In the era of large galactic and extra galactic surveys it is easy to forget that there are many nearby astrophysical laboratories that can also be used to provide important constraints on our knowledge of the Galaxy, as well as providing crucial insights on astrophysical processes inside stars and their atmospheres. In fact by addressing issues relevant to stellar physics, we can provide much better tools to the community for studying more distant populations. I will present the case of HD 122563, an old metal-poor (Population II) giant at a mere distance of 250 pc. Because it is metal-poor such a star provides an excellent laboratory for constraining models of stellar atmospheres and interiors of old stars. It is also a benchmark star for testing methodologies for interpreting millions of stars from the Gaia mission.
In this talk I will discuss recent observations of this star using many different techniques (e.g interferometry, photometry), and in particular I will highlight the need to use complementary methods in order to address (systematic) errors that are otherwise masked. I will also present the very first observations of sun-like oscillations in a metal-poor giant star using data from the SONG network. Finally, I conclude by emphasizing the synergy between asteroseismology, interferometry and data from the Gaia spacecraft.