Development of the Henry Draper Catalog of stellar classifications was begun in the late nineteenth century.The catalog originally classified stars according to the strengths of their hydrogen lines.By the 1920s,however,the sequence had been reorganized so that the stars were classified by surface temperature.What important scientific development made possible this reinterpretation?
A) the discovery of nuclear physics and how stars generate their energy
B) the discovery of blackbody radiation and the blackbody curve
C) the development of atomic physics and how atoms emit light
D) the development of radio astronomy and the detection of molecules in space

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The development of atomic physics and understanding of how atoms emit light allowed scientists to classify stars based on their surface temperature, as it explained the relationship between temperature and spectral lines.

Development of the Henry Draper Catalog of Stellar Classifications Was