spectroscopic binary

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. a binary star having components that are not sufficiently separated to be resolved by a telescope, known to be a binary only bythe variations in wavelength of emitted light that are detected by a spectroscope.

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spectroscopic binary Scientific  

/ spĕk′trə-skŏp′ĭk /

1. See under binary star

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Example Sentences

Describe the spectra for a spectroscopic binary for a system comprised of an F-type and L-type star.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

A star like Mizar A, which appears as a single star when photographed or observed visually through the telescope, but which spectroscopy shows really to be a double star, is called a spectroscopic binary.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

In visual binaries, the two stars can be seen separately in a telescope, whereas in a spectroscopic binary, only the spectrum reveals the presence of two stars.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

Figure 18.7 shows the velocity of two stars in a spectroscopic binary system.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

This star, which is the Algol variable V Puppis, has been found to be a spectroscopic binary.

From Darwin and Modern Science by Seward, A. C. (Albert Charles)