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Corrected 2nd expression. Was shown as 1/1.5(B-V)+0.62. Changed to 0.92(B-V)+0.62 |
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In [[astronomy]], the '''color index''' is a simple [[Numerical analysis|numerical]] [[Expression (mathematics)|expression]] that determines the [[color]] of an object, which in the case of a [[star]] gives its [[temperature]]. The lower the color index, the more [[blue]] (or hotter) the object is. Conversely, the larger the color index, the more [[red]] (or cooler) the object is. This is a consequence of the [[Logarithmic scale|logarithmic magnitude scale]], in which brighter objects have smaller (more negative) magnitudes than dimmer ones. For comparison, the [[yellow|whit]]ish [[Sun]] has a B−V index of {{nowrap|0.656 ± 0.005}},<ref name=sun/> whereas the bluish [[Rigel]] has a B−V of −0.03 (its B magnitude is 0.09 and its V magnitude is 0.12, B−V = −0.03).<ref name=rigel/> Traditionally, the color index uses [[Vega]] as a [[Zero Point (photometry)|zero point]].
To measure the index, one observes the [[Magnitude (astronomy)|magnitude]] of an object successively through two different [[Astronomical filter|filter]]s, such as U and B, or B and V, where U is sensitive to [[ultraviolet]] rays, B is sensitive to blue light, and V is sensitive to visible (green-yellow) light (see also: [[UBV system]]). The set of passbands or filters is called a [[photometric system]]. The difference in magnitudes found with these filters is called the U−B or B−V color index respectively.
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