Struve

Definition

Struve refers to a family of astronomers, most notably Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve and Otto Struve, known for their extensive work in stellar astronomy. They contributed significantly to the measurement of celestial distances and the cataloging of double stars.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve established the first major survey of double stars called 'Stellarum Duplicium et Multiplicium Mensurae Micrometricae'.
2. The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of triangulation points stretching from Norway to the Black Sea, used for measuring the exact size and shape of the Earth.
3. Otto Struve made significant contributions to understanding stellar spectra and interstellar matter.
4. The Struve family’s work laid foundational methods for determining distances to stars using parallax.
5. Several astronomical objects, including a crater on the Moon and an asteroid (768) Struveana, are named in their honor.

Review Questions

• What was Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve's major contribution to double star astronomy?
• Describe the significance of the Struve Geodetic Arc in celestial measurements?
• How did Otto Struve contribute to our understanding of stellar spectra?

Related terms

Parallax: A method used in astronomy to determine distances to nearby stars by observing their apparent movement relative to distant background objects as Earth orbits the Sun.

Double Star: A pair of stars that appear close together in the sky; they may be gravitationally bound (binary stars) or just line-of-sight coincidences.

Stellar Spectra: The spectrum of light emitted by a star, which can provide information about its composition, temperature, density, mass, distance, luminosity, and relative motion.