Spectroscopy is used in astrophysics to study stars, planets, and galaxies by analyzing the light they emit or absorb. It tells us a lot about objects we can’t touch directly.
Applications of Spectroscopy in Astrophysics
- Identifying Elements
- Each element has a unique set of spectral lines.
- By looking at these lines in starlight, astronomers know what the star or galaxy is made of.
- Measuring Temperature
- The color and intensity of light show how hot a star is.
- Blue light → hotter, Red light → cooler.
- Detecting Motion (Doppler Effect)
- If an object moves toward us, spectral lines shift toward blue.
- If it moves away, lines shift toward red.
- This helps measure velocities of stars, galaxies, and planets.
- Studying Physical Conditions
- Spectral lines reveal pressure, density, magnetic fields, and ionization states of stars and gas clouds.
- Finding Exoplanets
- Tiny shifts in a star’s spectral lines can show the presence of orbiting planets.
- Understanding the Universe
- Spectroscopy helps study chemical evolution, star formation, and the expansion of the universe.
Simple Summary
- Spectroscopy = studying light from space.
- It reveals composition, temperature, motion, and environment of celestial objects.