The relation between the wavelength of peak emission from a black body and its temperature. At low temperatures black-body radiation is confined mainly to the infrared region of the spectrum, but at progressively higher temperatures the peak of the emission is displaced to progressively shorter wavelengths. According to the law, the wavelength of peak emission, λmax, multiplied by T, the thermodynamic temperature of the body, is a constant. Although celestial bodies are not perfect black bodies, the displacement law is still useful for predicting the wavelengths near which most of their radiation is emitted. For example, the cosmic background radiation has T = 2.7 K and λmax = 1 mm; a cool, red star has T = 3000 K and λmax = 1 μm (in the infrared); the Sun, T = 6000 K and λmax = 500 nm (visible); the hottest normal stars, T = 30 000 K and λmax = 100 nm (ultraviolet); planetary nebula nuclei T = 100 000 K and λmax = 30 nm (extreme ultraviolet). The law is named after the German physicist Wilhelm Wien (1864–1928).