Question

Which scientist explained why binary stars change colors

Answer 1

Edward C. Pickering discovered that the changing colors of binary stars are due to the motion of the stars and the changes in their spectra.

Step-by-step explanation:

Edward C. Pickering, a scientist at Harvard, explained why binary stars change colors by studying the spectrum of Mizar, a binary star system. He discovered that the dark absorption lines in the brighter star's spectrum were usually double, with constantly changing spacing. Pickering deduced that the brighter component of Mizar is actually two stars that orbit each other, known as a spectroscopic binary. This discovery showed that the changing colors of binary stars are due to the motion of the stars and the changes in their spectra.

Answer 2

This is because of scintillation ("Twinkling") as the light passes through the atmosphere of the Earth. As the air moves in and out, the starlight is refracted, often different colors in different directions. Because of this "chromatic abberation," stars can appear to change colors when they are twinkling strongly.

Step-by-step explanation: