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How can we tell what elements make up a distant star?
Each element absorbs light at specific wavelengths unique to that atom. When astronomers look at an object’s spectrum, they can determine its composition based on these wavelengths. The most common method astronomers use to determine the composition of stars, planets, and other objects is spectroscopy.
What distant stars are made of?
Stars are huge celestial bodies made mostly of hydrogen and helium that produce light and heat from the churning nuclear forges inside their cores. Aside from our sun, the dots of light we see in the sky are all light-years from Earth.
What rays do stars give off?
Stars are of course sources of visible light, but they also emit UV, X-ray, and even gamma-ray light. The emission of stellar radiation depends on their surface temperature and also on their activity. Therefore, emission is related to the evolution and spectral type of the star and it can be highly variable.
What types of waves can be used to study space?
Radio telescopes look toward the heavens to view planets, comets, giant clouds of gas and dust, stars, and galaxies. By studying the radio waves originating from these sources, astronomers can learn about their composition, structure, and motion.
How do we know what distant stars are made of quizlet?
Scientists who study the stars, planets and other objects in the solar system. An instrument that separates light into a pattern of lights and patterns. Astronomers use patterns on the spectroscope to find out what elements a stars contains. A device built to observe distant objects by making them appear closer.
Which star gives out electromagnetic waves?
Most stars emit the bulk of their electromagnetic energy as visible light, that sliver of the spectrum our eyes can see. Hotter stars emit higher energy light, so the color of the star indicates how hot it is. This means that red stars are cool, while blue stars are hot.
Do all stars give off radiation?
All stars, like our Sun, send out a huge amount of electromagnetic radiation, including light. However, that light spreads out with distance, making it so that only a tiny fraction reaches us. In addition, depending on the temperature of the star, the main color of light sent out by the star changes.
What waves are produced by stars and galaxies?
Planets, comets, stars, and galaxies all generate or reflect electromagnetic energy at many different wavelengths. Some of the energy they emit is in the form of very large wavelengths called radio waves. Devices used to detect radio waves from objects in space are called radio telescopes.
Why cant we observe distant stars and galaxies as they are right now?
“Because the universe is expanding and the expansion appears to be accelerating, there may be distant galaxies which if we can’t see them now because their light has not had time to reach us, we will never see,” Stecker said.