The H-K Project uses a specially-designed instrument to measure the amount of light from active magnetic regions in stars. This light comes from calcium atoms that have lost one electron each. The different wavelengths of light emitted by these atoms were labeled long ago. The "H" and "K" light gave this project its name. This light comes from the upper levels of the Sun near active magnetic regions that we can see, like sunspots. Other stars are too far away to see these features on their surfaces. Studying the relative strength of these two wavelengths of calcium light from distant stars similar to our Sun gives an indirect measure of the amount of surface activity on the stars -- "starspots". Using this method, astronomers have been able to follow cycles similar to the sunspot cycle that has been observed on the Sun for centuries.
What follows is a more technical description of the H-K Project.
News from Mount Wilson: The Mount Wilson 2011 Calendar is now available. Preview it and then order it here. An exquisite new model of the 100-inch telescope by Barry Crist is coming soon. You can reserve one now. For the first time in two decades, food is once again available on Mount Wilson at the Observatory's new Cosmic Cafe. Huell Howser featured Mount Wilson Observatory in a one-hour California's Gold featured in a number of showings this summer. It continues to appear at miscellaneous times, so please watch for it. The Observatory has received renovation funding from the National Science Foundation. Read our press release describing this competitively awarded grant. Mount Wilson: One year after the Station Fire - The fire was set by an as yet unidentified arsonist on 26 August 2009. Sky and Telescope magazine published an online perspective on this anniversary by Observatory Director Hal McAlister. Last call for six 60-inch Telescope Models! There are just a handful left!
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Mount Wilson Observatory is operated by the Mount Wilson Institute under an agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Observatory occupies lands belonging to the USDA Forest Service set aside under a long-term leasehold agreement between CIW and the USDA Forest Service. The Observatory subscribes to the USDA non-discrimination policy as expressed here. |