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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Electromagnetic Spectrum. Radio, microwaves , infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray , gamma. The Electromagnetic Spectrum. It is natural to think of light as visible light - the light we see with our eyes. However, this is only one type of light.

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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  1. The Electromagnetic Spectrum • Radio, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma

  2. The Electromagnetic Spectrum • It is natural to think of light as visible light - the light we see with our eyes. However, this is only one type of light. • The entire range of light, which includes the rainbow of colors we normally see, is called the electromagnetic spectrum. • The electromagnetic spectrum includes gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves.

  3. The Electromagnetic Spectrum • The only difference between these different types of radiation is their characteristic wavelength or frequency. • Wavelength increases and frequency decreases from gamma rays to radio waves. • All of these forms of radiation travel at the speed of light, which is about 300,000 km/sec.

  4. Electromagnetic Spectrum By studying the Universe across the spectrum we can get a more complete understanding of objects in space. The light from each part of the electromagnetic spectrum brings us valuable and unique information. X-ray image showing hot gas near the center of our Milky Way Galaxy (CXO). infrared view of glowing dust near the center of our Galaxy (2MASS). Visible light image showing stars of different colors.  Ultraviolet view of hot white dwarf stars in a nearby galaxy (ASTRO-1). Radio image of a supernova remnant (NRAO). 

  5. X-Rays and Gamma Rays • X-rays and gamma rays bring us information about high energy phenomena such as black holes, supernova remnants, hot gas, and neutron stars. • Gamma rays to help us gain knowledge of the beginnings of the universe and how fast the universe is expanding. • X-rays allow astronomers to understand the structure and evolution of the universe.

  6. X-Rays and Gamma Rays Our night sky in gamma ray light. The bright spot is the moon. Our Sun in X-Ray Light

  7. Ultraviolet • Ultraviolet light reveals very hot, young stars and quasars. • By comparing UV waves to the visible waves, astronomers can learn about the structure and evolution of the galaxies. The Sun in UV light.

  8. Visible • Visible light shows us the surface characteristics of warmer stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Crab Nebula The pictures show the planet Uranus in true-color (on the left) and false-color (on the right).

  9. Infrared • In the infrared we see cool stars, regions of star birth, cool dusty regions of space, and the core of our galaxy. • Infrared helps us see objects that are cannot be seen in visible light. Infrared Image of the Milky Way.

  10. Microwaves • Microwaves are used to learn about stars that are behind clouds of dust and collect data on Cosmic Background Radiation. The image above is a Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) image of the cosmic microwave background, the pink and blue colors showing the tiny fluctuations in it.This radiation, which fills the entire Universe, is believed to be a clue to it's beginning, something known as the Big Bang.

  11. Radio • Radiation in the radio region shows us cold molecular clouds and the radiation left over from the Big Bang. • Astronomers can learn what the star is made of, as well as its structure and motion from analyzing these types of waves.

  12. Orion (the Hunter) may be a familiar constellation in the winter night sky, but these dramatically different images at various wavelengths are anything but familiar! • The X-ray photograph reveals Sun-like stars, white dwarf stars, neutron stars, and supernova remnants in our own Galaxy, and (in the background) nearby galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and distant quasars. • The ultraviolet image is a close-up view of the belt/sword region of Orion, including the famous Orion Nebula, and is dominated by emission from hot, young stars. • The visible light image shows stars of all ages and temperatures. • In the infrared, our view of Orion is dominated by emission from clouds of dust and gas, the materials from which new stars will be born. • The radio image maps the distribution of hydrogen molecules in the interstellar medium, with red showing the areas of highest concentration. Ultraviolet (MSX) Infrared (IRAS) Visible (AkiriFujii/JPL) Radio (NRAO) X-Ray (ROSAT)

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