photometry

American  

[foh-tom-i-tree] / foʊˈtɒm ɪ tri /

noun

1. the measurement of the intensity of light or of relative illuminating power.

2. the science dealing with such measurements.

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photometry British  

/ ˌfəʊtəˈmɛtrɪk, fəʊˈtɒmɪtrɪ /

noun

1. the measurement of the intensity of light

2. the branch of physics concerned with such measurements

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photometry Scientific  

/ fō-tŏm′ĭ-trē /

1. The measurement of the intensity, brightness, or other properties of light.

2. Also called photometrics

3. See also luminous intensity

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Other Word Forms

• photometric adjective
• photometrical adjective
• photometrically adverb
• photometrician noun
• photometrist noun

Etymology

Origin of photometry

From the New Latin word photometria, dating back to 1815–25. See photo-, -metry

Example Sentences

Ludwig developed the first wide-field UV catalog of the Magellanic Clouds and used UV photometry to detect systems with unusual UV emissions, signaling the possible presence of a stripped star.

From Science Daily • Dec. 15, 2023

For now the galaxies have only been studied by photometry, with spectroscopic analysis planned for July.

From Scientific American • Apr. 13, 2023

Curious what the rodents’ brain activity might reveal, Hu and her colleagues turned to a technique called fiber photometry, a kind of brain-imaging and mind-control technique all in one.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 27, 2023

One of the most tried-and-true methods of exoplanet hunting is called transit photometry, which is basically pointing a telescope at a star and measuring the light when a planet swings past.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2022

Photographic photometry of the asteroids has revealed marked variations in their light, due perhaps to irregularities of figure.

From Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by Todd, David Peck