Abstract
M dwarf stars rank among the least spectacular constituents of the local stellar population, yet they represent almost half of the total mass locked up in stars within the Milky Way galaxy. As a result, apart from being interesting in their own right, the global characteristics of these stars have wider implications for studies of Galactic structure and star formation both within our own Galaxy and elsewhere. The main aim of this book is to summarise our current understanding of the physical structure and properties of these stars. That knowledge has been garnered through applying a variety of commonly-used astronomical techniques. This introductory chapter provides an outline of the basic concepts involved, placing a particular emphasis on practical observation.
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Reid, I.N., Hawley, S.L. (2000). Astronomical concepts. In: New Light on Dark Stars. Astronomy and Planetary Sciences. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3663-7_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3663-7_1
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