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Showing results for light curve. Search instead for light source.

light curve

American  

noun

Astronomy.
  1. a graph showing variations in brightness of celestial objects over time.


Etymology

Origin of light curve

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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Spot-Crossing Signal: A change in the transit light curve that happens when a planet moves across a darker, cooler starspot on the star's surface.

From Science Daily Dec. 4, 2025

The limb of a star, the edge of the stellar disk, plays a decisive role in the interpretation of its light curve.

From Science Daily Apr. 12, 2024

Due to the movement of the moon and planet around their mutual center of gravity, this additional dimming in the light curve would follow a rather complicated pattern.

From Science Daily Dec. 7, 2023

An algorithm then compares these simulated light curves with the observed light curve and looks for the best match.

From Science Daily Dec. 7, 2023

Thus the light curve and the spectroscopic velocity curve are very similar in shape, but one is like the other turned upside down.

From Astronomical Curiosities Facts and Fallacies by J. Ellard Gore

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