Fénygörbének

Fénygörbének is a Hungarian term that translates to "light curve" in English. It refers to a graph that plots the brightness of an astronomical object over time. Astronomers use light curves to study a wide variety of celestial phenomena. By observing how the brightness of an object changes, they can infer information about its nature, size, temperature, and even its motion.

Different types of astronomical objects produce distinct light curves. For instance, the light curve of a star might show periodic dips in brightness if it is part of a binary system and a companion star eclipses it. Variable stars, which intrinsically change their luminosity, exhibit irregular or repeating patterns in their light curves. The light curve of a supernova, a star's explosive death, shows a rapid increase in brightness followed by a gradual decline.

The study of light curves is crucial in exoplanet detection. When an exoplanet passes in front of its host star, it causes a slight, temporary dimming of the star's light, creating a characteristic dip in the light curve. The depth and duration of this dip provide information about the exoplanet's size and orbital period. Furthermore, the analysis of subtle variations in light curves can reveal details about the composition and structure of distant objects.