The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria, B.C.Plaskett, J. S. (John Stanley)
History
The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria, B.C.
Plaskett, J. S. (John Stanley)
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
One of the auxiliary programmes undertaken and nearly completed since
the first programme is the determination of the radial velocities of a
very interesting but limited class of stars, the highest temperature
stars known, the O-type stars. The radial velocities and other
interesting data about 50 of these stars have been completed.
Spectroscopic Double Stars
In the measurement of the radial velocity of the 800 stars on the
first programme it was found that in about 180 stars successive plates
did not give constant velocities, the stars at one time approaching
at another receding from us. This phenomenon is practically certain
proof that we are measuring the velocity of a star revolving around an
invisible companion and such stars are generally called spectroscopic
binaries to distinguish them from visual binaries which can be seen
double in the telescope. Over 200 spectroscopic binaries have been
discovered at this observatory as compared with about 700 discovered
elsewhere, again a considerable addition. In about 20 of these
binaries, observations were continued until the period of revolution,
the form of the orbit, the separation of the two stars and in some
cases, their masses were determined. In a particular class of
spectroscopic binaries, the eclipsing variables, which allow from the
combination of spectroscopic and photometric measurements the absolute
dimensions to be obtained, we were able to determine the separation of
the two stars, their diameters, densities, masses and brightnesses and
the probable distances. Such complete information has been obtained
here about seven systems, while only seven other systems have been
determined elsewhere.
Absolute Magnitude and Distance
A new application of spectroscopic methods is to the determination of
the total brightness of the stars as compared with the sun and their
distance or “spectroscopic parallax” as it is called. This depends not
on the positions but on the relative intensity or strength of the lines
in the spectra of the stars and has only been developed in the last
three or four years. The absolute magnitude and spectroscopic parallax
of about 800 stars is now nearly completed and will soon be published
while as a side line the radial velocities of 125 more stars have been
determined.
Physical Conditions in the Stars
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