A monthly series on astronomy THE SIZK OF THE STARS by R. Hanbury Brown , F.R.S. Professor of Radio Astronomy, Manchester University
We know very little about the sizes of hot stars. Professor Hanbury Brown is preparing an experiment in Australia to measure the 200 brightest stars.
The diagram illustrates the principle of the experiment. The correlation between the photocell outputs decreases as D increases, in a way which depends on the star's diameter.
: previously broadcast in the BBC General Overseas Service