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Glossary
Harvard Stellar Spectral Classification
Stars of different temperatures
(which is a function of mass, age etc) emit different spectra.
The historic "Harvard Classification Scheme" is still used to
describe these differences.
Here is the basic scheme:
Spect Type
|
Spectrum
|
Color
|
Temp (K)
|
| O
| ionized + neutral He,
some H
| bluish
| >31x103
|
| B |
neutral He, stronger H |
blue-white |
9.8 to 31x103 |
| A |
strong H, ionized metals |
white |
7.1 to 9.8x103 |
| F |
less H, ionized metals |
yellowish white |
6.0 to 7.1x103 |
| G |
weak H, ionized + neutral metals |
yellowish |
5.3 to 6.0x103 |
| K |
v weak H, neutral metals |
orange |
4.0 to 5.3x103 |
| M |
none (v.v.weak) H, neutral metals, molecules |
reddish |
2.0 to 4.0x103 |
| L |
no H, metallic hydrides, alkalai metals |
red-infrared |
1.5 to 2.0x103 |
| T |
methane bands |
infrared |
< 103 |
There are many sub-classification schemes used to
denote even more subtle variations (eg
The Sun is a G2 star).
However the details of the
classification scheme & definitions
are beyond the scope of
the course.
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