Astronomy: General

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. World Encyclopedia Further reading

blue shift

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

blue shift or blueshift, in astronomy, the systematic displacement of individual lines in the spectrum of a celestial object toward the blue, or shorter wavelength, end of the visible spectrum. The amount of displacement is a function of the object's relative velocity toward the observer. Most observed blue shifts are the result of the Doppler effect . The blue shift is the opposite of the red shift . Blue shifted celestial bodies are quite rare. Of the billions of known galaxies, only about 100, including the Andromeda galaxy, are blue shifted.

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blue shift

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

blue shift In astronomy, an effect in which the lines in the spectrum of a celestial object are displaced towards the blue end of the spectrum. It results from the Doppler effect because the object and the observer are moving towards each other. The closing speed can be calculated from the extent of the shift. See also red shift

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"blue shift." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"blue shift." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-blueshift.html

"blue shift." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-blueshift.html

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