It is dedicated to useful programs that our students use in their own research.
iSpec is a utility for working with the spectra of stars, namely the determination of stellar atmospheric parameters and the chemical composition of a star using two major astrophysical methods.
STARGAZING is a gift-style book that introduces stargazing as a way to practice mindfulness. It’s packed with science too!! It’s out in August, and I appreciate any preorders:
Hubble images a starstruck galaxy: The irregular galaxy Arp 263 lurks in the background of this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, but the view is dominated by a stellar photobomber, the bright star BD+17 2217. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-hubble-images-starstruck-galaxy.html
How can astronomers know exactly how hot stars are? You can guess from their colors, but to get a precise measurement, you have to look at their spectra.
We spread out the light from the stars into a rainbow-like spectrum and look for patterns of lines, made by different elements and molecules in the star's outer layers. The presence or absence of lines tells you the precise temperature.
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The feature article reports the discovery of the 1st extrasolar planet orbiting a Sun-like star, 51 Pegasi, by Michel Mayor & Didier Queloz, a discovery that will earn them the Nobel Prize in 2019