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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.

spectroscopic binary Scientific  
/ spĕk′trə-skŏp′ĭk /

  1. See under binary star

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.

The star β Cephei has recently been discovered to be a spectroscopic binary with the wonderfully short period of 4h 34m 11s.

From Project Gutenberg

It has recently been found to be a spectroscopic binary.

From Project Gutenberg

The brighter component was found to be a spectroscopic binary by Wright, so that on the whole the star is a most interesting object.

From Project Gutenberg

Capella has been found to be a spectroscopic binary; also the pole star.

From Project Gutenberg

Prof. Campbell estimates that fully one star in six is a spectroscopic binary.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.