Telescopes · Stars · Observing
Photometry
Say it: foh-TOM-ih-tree IPA: /foʊˈtɑmɪtri/ noun
Photometry: The quantitative measurement of received light from an astronomical source.
Repeated brightness measurements can reveal a star pulsing or a planet crossing its face. Filters let astronomers compare the light in chosen wavelength bands.
- Example
- The photometry showed a small, repeating dip in the star's brightness.
- Why astronomers use it
- It turns brightness changes into evidence about stars, planets, and transient events.
- Tiny cosmic connection
- Apparent brightness alone is not intrinsic luminosity: distance and intervening material also affect what reaches us.
Observatory Telescopes Stars Observing
Where to check it
Written for Cool Moon Facts in its own words; the sources cover the same idea in more depth.