gravity darkening

See also: gravity-darkening

English

Noun

gravity darkening (uncountable)

(physics, astronomy) The phenomenon of a star rotating so rapidly that it is oblate, with a larger radius and thus lower surface gravity at the equator (which is thus cooler and darker: gravity-darkened), and higher surface gravity at the poles (which are hotter and brighter: gravity brightened).

Synonyms

gravity brightening

See also

limb darkening, limb brightening

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