Using near-ultraviolet spectra obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope , we detect neutral tellurium in three metal-poor stars enriched by products of r -process nucleosynthesis , BD + 17 3248 , HD 108317 , and HD 128279 .
Tellurium ( Te , Z = 52 ) is found at the second r -process peak ( A \approx 130 ) associated with the N = 82 neutron shell closure , and it has not been detected previously in Galactic halo stars .
The derived tellurium abundances match the scaled Solar System r -process distribution within the uncertainties , confirming the predicted second peak r -process residuals .
These results suggest that tellurium is predominantly produced in the main component of the r -process , along with the rare earth elements .