Fénykimerülés

Fénykimerülés, a Hungarian term often translated as "light fading" or "dimming," refers to a visual phenomenon where a light source appears to decrease in brightness or intensity over time. This can occur for a variety of reasons, both natural and artificial.

In astronomical contexts, fénykimerülés is commonly used to describe the dimming of stars. This can be caused by interstellar dust and gas that absorbs or scatters the starlight as it travels through space. More specifically, it can refer to the periodic dimming of a star as a planet passes in front of it, an event known as a transit. The depth and duration of this dimming provide crucial information about the planet's size and orbital period. Variable stars also exhibit fénykimerülés as their intrinsic brightness changes due to stellar pulsations or other internal processes.

Artificial light sources, such as incandescent or LED bulbs, can also experience fénykimerülés. Over their lifespan, the materials within the bulbs degrade, leading to a gradual reduction in light output. This is a natural part of the aging process for many types of lighting. The term can also be used more generally to describe any situation where light intensity diminishes, such as when looking through a partially obscured window or a dirty lens. Understanding the causes of fénykimerülés is important for accurate observation in astronomy and for evaluating the performance and lifespan of artificial lighting.