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Observational properties of low-mass dwarfs

  • Chapter
New Light on Dark Stars

Part of the book series: Astronomy and Planetary Sciences ((ASTRONOMY))

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Abstract

Astronomy is an observational science. In disciplines such as chemistry, biology and physics, carefully controlled laboratory experiments can be set up to test the effect of altering one specific variable, such as temperature, pressure or concentration. However, the physical conditions which pervade in most celestial objects are so extreme that there can be no question of their being matched in terrestrial laboratories, so direct experimentation is out of the question. Consequently, physical understanding of the conditions and processes which govern the formation and evolution of stars rests on our ability to interpret information carried by electromagnetic radiation. Observations of position as a function of time yield estimates of distance and of motion perpendicular to the line of sight; summing the energy output over all wavelengths gives the total (bolometric) luminosity; surface temperature can be estimated from the distribution of energy as a function of wavelength, and from the relative ionisation of different chemical species; individual spectral line profiles of various atoms allow us to estimate the density, gravity and gas pressure in the atmosphere; chemical composition influences the relative strengths of lines and bands in the spectrum; and the exact position of spectral lines tells us the radial velocity of the star.

‘It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data.’

Arthur Conan Doyle

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Formerly of Edinburgh University, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, Scotland

    Dr I. Neill Reid

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

    Dr Suzanne L. Hawley (Associate Professor)

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  1. Dr I. Neill Reid
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  2. Dr Suzanne L. Hawley
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Reid, I.N., Hawley, S.L. (2000). Observational properties of low-mass dwarfs. In: New Light on Dark Stars. Astronomy and Planetary Sciences. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3663-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3663-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3665-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3663-7

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