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jimmy p
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Just a simple quickie, why are stars classified using the letters O, B, A, F, G, K and M? Is there any significance in the letters?
jimmy p said:So what is the meaning of the letters?
Several mnemonics, e.g. "Oven Baked Apples From Grandpa's/Grandma's Kitchen. Mmmm."quartodeciman said:A would be (and still is) the darkest hydrogen Balmer lines [in the spectrum of a star], B would be next darkest and so on down.
Indeed, your list is not complete. It extends to 4 more classes (R,N and S by the right and W by the left)Just a simple quickie, why are stars classified using the letters O, B, A, F, G, K and M? Is there any significance in the letters?
A bunch of memory tricks tell you nothing about the meaning of the letters. Go to:jimmy p said:So what is the meaning of the letters?
jimmy p said:So what is the meaning of the letters?
chroot said:"Oh, Be A Fine Gorilla, Kiss Me."
- Warren
jimmy p said:just a simple quickie, why are stars classified using the letters o, b, a, f, g, k and m? Is there any significance in the letters?
The purpose of classifying Stella Spectra is to organize and categorize the different types of stars based on their spectral characteristics. This allows scientists to better understand the evolution and properties of stars, as well as their place in the universe.
Stella Spectra are classified using the Harvard spectral classification system, which is based on the presence and intensity of certain spectral lines in a star's spectrum. This results in a single-letter spectral type, from hottest to coolest: O, B, A, F, G, K, and M.
The spectral type of a star is determined by its temperature, which affects the types of atoms and molecules present in its atmosphere. Cooler stars have more molecules, leading to the presence of more spectral lines, and thus a different spectral type.
The spectral type of a star is directly related to its color, with hotter stars appearing bluer and cooler stars appearing redder. This is due to the fact that the temperature of a star affects the types of light it emits, with hotter stars emitting more high-energy, shorter-wavelength light (blue) and cooler stars emitting more low-energy, longer-wavelength light (red).
In addition to determining the spectral type and color of a star, classification of Stella Spectra can also provide information about a star's composition, age, and even its distance from Earth. This can help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of stars, as well as their role in the larger universe.