Spectroscopy articles
What is the primary technique called that converts a simple point of light into a detailed physical profile of a star?
Who systematically cataloged hundreds of dark gaps in the solar spectrum, which became known as Fraunhofer lines?
What mechanism explains the creation of the dark absorption lines observed in a star's spectrum?
How do astronomers use the pattern of absorption lines to determine the chemical composition of a star?
What does the relative strength and width of absorption lines primarily help determine regarding elemental composition?
What is the relationship between a star's surface temperature and the peak wavelength of its continuous spectrum, according to Wien’s Displacement Law?
What is the defining characteristic and temperature range for Spectral Class G stars?
If a star's spectral lines are uniformly shifted toward the shorter-wavelength, higher-frequency end of the spectrum, what is this phenomenon called and what does it imply?
How does the density of a star's atmosphere influence the appearance of its spectral lines?
What capability of modern spectrographs like NIRSpec allows for statistically advancing fields like planet formation studies in a single exposure?
What must serve as the sole source of information regarding the composition of distant stars?
What process transforms incoming starlight into a continuous band of colors from red through violet?
What causes dark gaps or lines to appear superimposed on a star's continuous spectrum?
What does the unique pattern formed by dark or bright spectral lines act as for an element?
Which element produces the very distinct set of spectral lines known as the Balmer series?
How do astronomers determine the relative abundance of elements in a star's outer layers?
If an observed spectral line is slightly shifted toward the red end of the spectrum, what does this reveal about the star?
What is the sophisticated instrument attached to telescopes used to capture and analyze faint, distant starlight by separating it into wavelengths?
A star found to have a very low metal content is classified as which population type?