Why is it so hard to find the spectral types of the bright stars?

The easiest place I know are two references. The first is the Yale Catalog of Bright Stars by Hoffleit which lists the spectral types for over 6000 stars brighter than magnitude +6.3. The second is the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalog which lists spectra for over 200,000 stars brighter than magnitude +9.0. Visit the National Space Science Data Center and get the Astronomical Catalogs CDROM which has both of these among many others.


Copyright 1997 Dr. Sten Odenwald
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