Studied by 22 people
Big Bang
the theory that explains that the universe was created by an expansion of space 13.8 billion years ago from a very hot condensed state
light year
6 trillion miles
spectrograph
Analyzing a light using a prism or diffraction grating to show the frequencies of visible light it contains.
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
A graph of a star's brightness and temperature that predicts characteristics of stars at different life stages
old stars
contain only hydrogen, were formed when the universe was formed
doppler effect
A change in frequency due to motion between an object and an observer
matter
anything that has mass and takes up space
apparent magnitude
the brightness of a star as seen from earth
magnetosphere
the area around the earth that deflects the solar wind
red shift
the stretching of light causing a decrease in frequency due to an object moving away from earth.
thermal spectrum
a spectrum of colors unique to the temperature of a hot object
spectral analysis
Comparing an observed spectrum with a known spectrum in order to identify the source
nuclear fusion
two or more atomic nuclei combining to form a larger nucleus
magnetic fields
Regions where magnetic forces can be detected
continuous spectrum
A spectrum containing a wide range of frequencies without any dark or light lines within the fuzzy colors
blue shift
the compressing of light causing an increase in frequency due to an object moving away from earth
exoplanet
Planets around other stars
spectrum
A representation of an object's light, separated by frequency
frequency
The number of wave peaks passing a point in each amount of time
cosmic wave background
a mysterious microwave signal coming from all of space, let over from the first light emitted after the big bang
absolute magnitude
the brightness of a star due to its temperature and type
supernova
the explosion and shock wave that follows the collapse of a massive star's iron core
sunspot
a darker area on the photosphere with lower temperature caused by magnetic fields
absorption spectrum
When a glowing gas gives off a spectrum containing dark lines within fuzzy colors.
young stars
-contain heavier elements as evidence of forming after at least one supernova
parallax
Apparent shift in an object's position when viewed from different locations.
solar wind
Charged particles flowing outward from the sun
plasma
the state of matter that is made of hot particles rather than neutral atoms
emission spectrum
When a glowing gas gives off a spectrum containing bright lines within fuzzy colors.
interstellar medium
matter found in space between stars
photon
a particle without mass of electromagnetic radiation
orion spur
the arm of the Milky Way where earth is
auroras
light in the earth's atmosphere caused by interaction between: solar wind, earth's atmosphere, the magnetosphere
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Flashcard (72)