Effect of Space Absorption on the Calculated Distribution of Stars

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (3) References Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Effect of Space Absorption on the Calculated Distribution of Stars Seares, Frederick H. Abstract Theoretical relations between absorption and space density-The true distributiofi of the space density of stars, z~, can be expressed in terms of the absorption function A and the fictitious distribution of density, D, obtained by ignoring the absorption. D can always be found from star counts with the aid of the luminosity function. For the case of selective absorption A can be found, theoretically at least, by deriving D from both photographic and photovisual star counts and combining the results with the general equation connecting z~, D, and A. Applications far special values of the absorption-Calculations based on Mount Wil- son photographic star counts and a constant coefficient corresponding to an absorption of 0.67 mag. per iooo parsecs indicate that the true space density in the galactic plane would increase in general with increasing distance from the sun. An increase in the direction of the center of the galactic system is possible and perhaps to be expected, but scarcely in other directions. Similar calculations for other forms of A make it probable that the absorption is not constant in longitude or for any great distance in the galactic plane Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1931 DOI: 10.1086/143327 Bibcode: 1931ApJ....74...91S full text sources ADS | Related Materials (1) Reprint: 1931CMWCI.428....1S