Bolometric Correction
Encyclopedia
In astronomy
, a bolometric correction is a correction that must be made to the absolute magnitude
of an object in order to convert an object's visible magnitude to its bolometric magnitude. Mathematically, such a calculation can be expressed:
The following is subset of a table from Kaler (p. 263) listing the bolometric correction for a range of stars. For the full table, see the referenced work.
The bolometric correction is large both for early type (hot) stars and for late type (cool) stars. The former because a substantial part of the produced radiation is in the ultraviolet, the latter because a large part is in the infrared. For a star like our Sun, the correction is only marginal because the Sun radiates most of its energy in the visual wavelength range.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, a bolometric correction is a correction that must be made to the absolute magnitude
Magnitude (astronomy)
Magnitude is the logarithmic measure of the brightness of an object, in astronomy, measured in a specific wavelength or passband, usually in optical or near-infrared wavelengths.-Background:...
of an object in order to convert an object's visible magnitude to its bolometric magnitude. Mathematically, such a calculation can be expressed:
The following is subset of a table from Kaler (p. 263) listing the bolometric correction for a range of stars. For the full table, see the referenced work.
| Class | Main Sequence | Giants | Supergiants |
|---|---|---|---|
| O3 | -4.3 | -4.2 | -4.0 |
| G0 | -0.10 | -0.13 | -0.1 |
| G5 | -0.14 | -0.34 | -0.20 |
| K0 | -0.24 | -0.42 | -0.38 |
| K5 | -0.66 | -1.19 | -1.00 |
| M0 | -1.21 | -1.28 | -1.3 |
The bolometric correction is large both for early type (hot) stars and for late type (cool) stars. The former because a substantial part of the produced radiation is in the ultraviolet, the latter because a large part is in the infrared. For a star like our Sun, the correction is only marginal because the Sun radiates most of its energy in the visual wavelength range.
External links
- http://www.peripatus.gen.nz/Astronomy/SteMag.html - contains table of bolometric corrections
- http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1996ApJ...469..355F/0000360.000.html - contains a detailed table of bolometric corrections