An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The two → forbidden lines with → transitions from the upper → energy level  ¹D₂ of the doubly ionized oxygen atom. They occur in the green part of the → visible spectrum and are called → nebular lines. They are λ5006.8 ¹D₂-³P₂ and

λ4958.9 ¹D₂-³P₁.

Theoretical values for the [O III] 5007/4959 line-intensity ratio is 3.01 (Storey and Zeippen, 2000, MNRAS 312, 813).

See also: [O III], spectroscopic notation of the ion O⁺⁺; → doublet.