Astronomers Uncover Groundbreaking Method to Precisely Measure Distant Celestial Objects
The article describes a method to account for errors in measuring astronomical data using a Bayesian approach. This method can handle different types of errors and variations in the data. By simulating different scenarios, the researchers found that their method outperformed other common techniques in estimating regression parameters. They applied this method to study the relationship between X-ray spectral slope and Eddington ratio in radio-quiet quasars, confirming that the X-ray spectral slope softens as the Eddington ratio increases. The researchers also provide tools for others to use this method for their own data analysis.