| | The fundamental definition of "radial velocity" (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21) |
 | | Accuracy levels of metres per second require the fundamental concept of "radial velocity" for stars and other distant objects to be examined, both as a physical velocity, and as measured by spectroscopic and astrometric techniques. |
 | | Already in a classical (non-relativistic) framework the line-of-sight velocity component is an ambiguous concept, depending on whether, e.g., the time of light emission (at the object) or that of light detection (by the observer) is used for recording the time coordinate. |
 | | However, it is not a physical velocity, and cannot be accurately transformed to a kinematic or astrometric radial velocity without additional assumptions and data in modelling the process of light emission from the source, the transmission of the signal through space, and its recording by the observer. |
| www.edpsciences.org /articles/aa/abs/2003/15/aah3961/aah3961.html (425 words) |