metallicity
met-uh-LIS-ih-tee
Definition
In astrophysics, the measure of the abundance of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium present in a star or planet.
Etymology
Derived from the English word 'metal' combined with the suffix '-icity' denoting a quality or state. In astronomy, the term is a specialized convention, as 'metals' refers to all elements heavier than the lightest primordial gases.
In the news
The article uses metallicity to describe how the chemical composition of the host M dwarf star complicates the analysis of its orbiting giant planet's atmosphere. High metallicity levels often create stellar contamination that makes it difficult for telescopes to isolate the planet's unique spectral signature.
JWST Transmission Spectroscopy Of TOI-3235 b: Challenges In Constraining Giant Planet Atmospheres Around M Dwarfs Amid Stellar Contamination
Read the full article ↗astrobiology.com