Mnemonics for the
Harvard Spectral Classification Scheme
The modern stellar spectral
classification scheme (also known as the Harvard Spectral Classification
Scheme) was created by
Annie Jump Cannon
through her examination of spectra from 1918 to 1924. Originally, the scheme
used capital letters running alphabetically, but was later reordered to
reflect the surface temperatures of stars. In order of decreasing
temperature, these types were O, B, A, F, G, K. and M. Three additional
categories also in the scheme: R, N, and S types, were later realized
to represent stars with peculiar heavy-metal abundances. Other types
(Q for novae, W for Wolf-Rayet stars, etc) are not encountered
frequently. According to astronomical myth, Henry Norris Russell suggested
the following mnemonic to assist students in remembering the scheme:
Oh Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me!
There have been many efforts since to improve on this mnemonic. The
motivations are various: to include the R, N, and S and even W stellar types,
to find a mnemonic for the vast number of astronomers who would really
not want to be kissed by a girl, by the feeling that really we can't
let Russell have the last word on this subject, or just as a fun
homework assignment for students. Owen Gingerich (CfA) holds an annual
contest in his "The Astronomical Perspective" course , and a summary
of many winning submissions was published in his article "The Great
Mnemonics Contest" in Phyllis Lugger, ed, ASTEROIDS TO QUASARS: A
SYMPOSIUM HONOURING WILLIAM LILLER (Cambridge University Press, 1991).
The Committee on the Status of Women
in Astronomy also held a competition on the subject in 1995 and
Russell's mnemonic (subject to the substitute of Guy or Gal for Girl)
remained the most popular of the submissions. Our humble efforts, which draw
on all these resources, plus many suggestions from others, are presented
here.
The Traditional
-
Oh Be A Fine [Guy/Gal/Girl] Kiss Me (Right Now [Smack/Sweetheart]).
-
Oh Begone, A Friend's Gonna Kiss Me (Right Now Smack).
-
Only Boys Accepting Feminism Get Kissed Meaningfully.
Political
-
Official Bureaucrats At Federal Government Kill Many Researchers'
National Support
-
Only Big Astronomy Federal Grants Keep Money. Research Needs Support!
The Joys of College
-
Oh Boy! Another Failing Grade Keeps Me Reconsidering Night School.
-
Oh Bother, Astronomers Frequently Give Killer Midterms.
-
Oh Bother, Another F's Gonna Kill Me.
-
Oh [Beautiful/Brutal/Big] And [Fine/Fearless/Ferocious] Gorilla,
[Kill/Kidnap] My Roommate Next Saturday.
-
Old Boring Astronomers Find Great Kicks Mustily Regaling Napping
Students.
-
Obese Balding Astronomer Found Guilty Killing Many Reluctant Nonscience
Students.
Appeals to Physics and Astronomy
-
Observationalists Basically Are Fine Generous Kind Men (Really Not Sexist)
(credited to Wendy Haugen-Bauer, Wellesley College)
-
Oh Backward Astronomer, Forget Geocentricity;
Kepler's Motions Reveal Nature's Simplicity.
(Ohhhh... it rhymes!)
-
Organs Blaring and Fugues Galore,
Kepler's Music Reads Nature's Score.
(Oh... so does this one. Do I get impressed too easily?)
-
Out Beyond Andromeda, Fiery Gases Kindle Many Radiant New Stars.
-
Orbs, Bright And Fair, Generate Kinder Memories: Revolving Nighttime
Skies.
-
Only Bright Astral Fires Going Kaput Make Real Neutron Stars.
For the old film buffs
-
Overseas [Bulletin/Broadcast]: A Flash! Godzilla Kills Mothra! (Rodan
Named Successor).
Appeals to Mechanics
-
Oil Buffers A Fragile Gasket, Keeps Motors Running Nearly Smooth.
Alternative Cuisine
-
Oh, Bring A Fully Grown Kangaroo
My Recipe Needs Some!
[This 1969 prize winner claims to be a haiku, but poetic purists
point out the match to the haiku form is imperfect]
-
Oven-Baked Ants, when Fried Gently, and Kept Moist, Retain Natural
Succulence.
Ecology
-
When Obstreperous Beasts Approach, Fragrant Geraniums Knowingly May Receive
Night's Stigmata.
[A rare mnemonic that includes W (Wolf-Rayet) stars]
-
Old Bottles And Filthy Garbage Kill Many Rare Natural Species.
-
Oregon Beavers Attack Famous Gardens, Killing Many, Rangers Now
Shooting.
-
One Bug Ate Five Green Killer Moths.
Submissions which defy categorization...
-
Occupied Baker's Assistants Forget Giant Kitchen Mouse, Receive Nasty
Scratches.
-
Only Bungling Astronomers Forget Generally Known Mnemonics!
-
Only Boring Astronomers Find Gratification Knowing Mnemonics!
-
Our Brother Andrew Found Green Killer Martians.
Web page author:
Jesse S. Allen