a shift in the spectral lines of a stellar spectrum towards the blue end of the visible region relative to the wavelengths of these lines in the terrestrial spectrum: a result of the Doppler effect caused by stars approaching the solar system
Compare redshift
blueshift in American English
(ˈbluˌʃɪft)
noun
Astronomy
the shift of spectral lines toward the shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies at the blue end of the spectrum of a luminous celestial body, indicating that the light source is moving rapidly toward the observer