10
40,000 20,000 10,000 7,500
5,500
4,500
3,000
Temperature (K)
Which piece of spectral data is necessary to determine the spectral class of a star?
To determine the spectral class of a star, you would need the piece of spectral data known as the temperature. The temperature of a star is a crucial factor in classifying it into its spectral class.
Each star has a unique set of spectral lines, which are produced when light from the star passes through its outer layers. These spectral lines can be analyzed to determine various properties of the star, including its temperature. The temperature of a star affects the energy distribution and intensities of these spectral lines.
To obtain the temperature of a star, astronomers use a spectrograph or a spectrometer, which splits the star's light into its constituent colors or wavelengths. The resulting spectrum will show dark absorption lines at specific wavelengths, indicating the presence of elements in the star's atmosphere. By examining the strengths and positions of these spectral lines, astronomers can measure the temperature of the star.
So, in summary, to determine the spectral class of a star, you would need the temperature, which can be determined by analyzing the spectral lines in the star's spectrum.