Abstract
THE determination of the distance of a star, by measuring its minute change of position when oseen from opposite points of the earth's orbit, is an extremely laborious work. According to Mr. Heath's pamphlet, the parallaxes of about 700 stars constitute the total output up to now from the various observatories of the world; and, for many of these the only information obtained is that the star is at a great but unknown distance beyond the reach of the method. The general fate of these data is to fall into the hands of some mathematical astronomer, apparently actuated by an irresistible impulse to add things up and take the mean; then conies a sudden jump to mathematical formulae; integrals gather in formidable array, and the error-function makes its inevitable appearance; and so the riddle of the universe is slowly disentangled-or knots itself tighter-to the great satisfaction of those who have any notion what it is all about.
The Distances, Absolute Magnitudes, and Spectra of 734 Stars.
Arranged for Use with Ordinary Star Maps by T. E. Heath. Pp. iv + 52. (Tenby: Sold by Miss Crealock, South Cliff Street, Tenby, n.d.) Price 2s. 6d. net.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
E., A. The Distances, Absolute Magnitudes, and Spectra of 734 Stars. Nature 100, 223 (1917). https://doi.org/10.1038/100223a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/100223a0