Fraunhofer lines


plural noun Astronomy.

the dark lines of the solar spectrum.

Origin of Fraunhofer lines

First recorded in 1830–40; named after J. von Fraunhofer

British Dictionary definitions for fraunhofer lines

Fraunhofer lines
/ (German ˈfraunhoːfər) /

pl n

a set of dark lines appearing in the continuous emission spectrum of the sun. It is caused by the absorption of light of certain wavelengths coming from the hotter region of the sun by elements in the cooler outer atmosphere

Word Origin for Fraunhofer lines

named after J. von Fraunhofer (1787–1826), German physicist