Double Star characteristic frequencies of light

AI Thread Summary
Astronomers can identify double stars by analyzing the characteristic frequencies of light emitted from each star, which can reveal differences in their spectral lines. These differences indicate the presence of multiple stellar components. The discussion highlights the importance of spectral analysis in distinguishing between single and double stars. Resources, such as course links, are suggested for further understanding of the topic. Understanding these frequencies is crucial for accurate astronomical observations.
mmfoley
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
How can an astronomer recognize a double star from the characteristic frequencies of the light that reaches him from its member stars? I have looked and looked in my textbook but I cannot come up with the answer to this one.

Thank you!
mmfoley
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Originally posted by mmfoley
How can an astronomer recognize a double star from the characteristic frequencies of the light that reaches him from its member stars? I have looked and looked in my textbook but I cannot come up with the answer to this one.

Thank you!
mmfoley
There is a good start here with links back to the index on the whole course:

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/astro101/lec16.htm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
thanks

Thank you, I'll be sure to check this out!
 
This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
Today at about 4:30 am I saw the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, where they were about the width of the full moon, or one half degree apart. Did anyone else see it? Edit: The moon is 2,200 miles in diameter and at a distance of 240,000 miles. Thereby it subtends an angle in radians of 2,200/240,000=.01 (approximately). With pi radians being 180 degrees, one radian is 57.3 degrees, so that .01 radians is about .50 degrees (angle subtended by the moon). (.57 to be more exact, but with...

Similar threads

Back
Top