The discovery of the chemical composition -- kinematics connection in the 1950's (Q1574478)

The article deals with the discovery of the chemical properties of high-velocity stars. The recognition that kinematic characteristics of stars are related to their spectroscopic appearance on low and intermediate dispersion spectra goes back to a paper published by Adams and Kohlschütter in 1914. The phenomenon can be explained by the differences in the abundances of metals; these abundance differences presumably reflect differences in age. In the fifties and sixties, it was found that the high-velocity carbon stars share the molecular pecularities of the high-velocity oxigen giants but, because of the greater strength of the bands of carbon-containing molecules, exhibit them to a higher degree.