Abstract
THE SPECTROSCOPIC METHOD OF DETERMINING THE DISTANCE OF A DOUBLE STAR.—Mr. A. A. Rambaut, in a paper communicated to the Royal Irish Academy on May 24, discusses at some length the possibility of determining the distance of a double star by measures of the relative velocities of the components in the line of sight by means of the spectroscope. Of course, as soon as Dr. Huggins had demonstrated that it was practicable to measure the rate of approach or recession of a star, it was seen that it would be at least theoretically possible to determine the distance of a star by this method, but Mr. Rambaut does not merely repeat the suggestion, but examines the conditions of the problem that he may ascertain what chance there is of putting it into successful operation. His first step is to find the value of IIV for the satellite star of any binary system, II being the parallax in seconds of arc, and V the velocity of motion in the line of sight expressed in miles per second. The resulting formula is—
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Our Astronomical Column . Nature 35, 206–207 (1886). https://doi.org/10.1038/035206a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/035206a0