gravity darkening

See also: gravity-darkening

English

Noun

gravity darkening (uncountable)

1. (physics, astronomy) The phenomenon of a star rotating so rapidly that it is oblate, with a larger radius and thus lower surface gravity at the equator (which is thus cooler and darker: gravity-darkened), and higher surface gravity at the poles (which are hotter and brighter: gravity brightened).

Synonyms

• gravity brightening

See also

• limb darkening, limb brightening