What feature, rather than general visual color, do astronomers use to reliably detect Doppler shifts?
Answer
The detailed structure of the star's spectrum, specifically absorption lines
Astronomers rely on the detailed structure of the spectrum. The real giveaway is the precise position of absorption lines, which shift predictably due to motion.
Related Questions
What primarily determines the actual color of a star observed by an eye?Which phenomenon describes the change in observed light properties when a star source is moving relative to an observer?What term describes the shift in a receding star's light toward the longer, red end of the spectrum?If a star is hurtling toward Earth, what happens to its observed light spectrum?What is the typical visual effect on an intrinsically yellow star, like our Sun, when it is moving away slowly?What feature, rather than general visual color, do astronomers use to reliably detect Doppler shifts?What causes the dark absorption lines observed in a star's continuous spectrum?How do scientists confirm that a measured spectral displacement is due to radial velocity?If an intrinsically blue-white A-type star shows its spectral lines consistently shifted toward longer wavelengths, what conclusion is drawn about its motion?What two distinct pieces of information does a star's full spectrum provide to astronomers?