Spectroscopy
By DarthVader
Date: 2022-07-14
Topic: 148 see comments
Post views: 1088
Spectroscopy
Video: https://youtu.be/cMCzA9rqJy8
Spectroscopy is the study of light using a spectrometer to identify chemical elements by looking at the spectra of captured light waves.
Analysing starlight
Spectroscopy can be used to study the chemical composition of astronomical structures such as nebulae, stars and planetary atmospheres.
Key points:
- Light is emitted from distant stars and passes through gas near the star and in planetary atmospheres
- Some of the different wavelenghts of this light are 'absorbed' by elements in the gas
- When viewed from earth using a telescope with a spectrometer, the spectrum of this light contains 'absorption lines' which appear as black bands on the spectrum where specific wavelengths of light do not appear, due to having been absorbed by elements in the distant gases
- Each element emits light with a unique emission spectrum, allowing elements to be identified using 'absorption' and 'emission' spectra
- By comparing known elements emission spectra to the absorption spectra viewed in the telescope from the distant light, individual elements can be identified from great distances
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