[Astronomy] - Light and Telescopes (SadRebelMom)

Electromagnetic Spectrum

the range of wavelengths or frequencies of light most of which humans cannot see

Wavelength

The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave

Frequency

the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time

Speed

The distance an object travels per unit of time; in equation; this is the constant in the equation for light: speed=frequency x wavelength

red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet

what colours does white light disperse into when it enters a prism?

A small percentage of EMS that humans can see

Visible light or white light

refracting telescope

lens only; bends light for magnification

reflecting telescope

uses mirrors and lenses; mirrors bend light towards the eye piece which then magnifies image

photons

particles of light

visible light

All the colors that are visible to the human eye; each color has a different electromagnetic frequency; makes up a small percentage of all EMS light

remains constant when measured in a vacuum

Speed of light regardless of type of EMS light

true black body object

astronomical object with absorbs ALL light; only emits light that it created itself; stars are believed to be these

NASA space mission

sent many missions into our solar system but has not actually visited each of planet, asteroid, etc.

NASA missions; Telescopes; Radiation measurements

Ways that astronomers have learned facts about space

medium

air, gas, liquid or solid required for movement of sound waves, but not for light waves

gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves, radio waves

Order of waves within Electromagnetic spectrum from smallest to longest

3 x 10^8 m/s

Speed of Light

Isaac Newton

Determined that sunlight can be split into different colors & first to use mirrors in telescope

Thomas Young

British physicist who studied light and devised the famous double-slit experiment that showed dual wave - particle nature of light; determined that light acts like a wave

Stars

Astronomical object which produces both heat and light through nuclear fusion; close to being a black body

telescope

A device built to observe distant objects by making them appear closer; gather in light

types of telescopes

refracting, reflecting and radio

temperature

What intensifies the wavelength and changes the color of light

Hubble Space Telescope

a space telescope and camera named for a famous astronaut (Edward Hubble) used to study space elements; located outside the Earth's atmosphere

Galileo Galili

Did NOT invent the telescope but first to use extensively and publish findings such as Venus' phases, Jupiter's moons, etc

Emission spectrum

a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source which produces a partial rainbow of colors

Space Based Telescopes

Types of telescopes which have advantage since atmosphere does not block most types of light, can be used in all types of weather, and are capable of intercepting more types of light than ground-based telescopes

Ground-Based Telescopes

Original types of telescopes with limitations because the atmosphere blocks many types of lightwaves.

Convex Lens

A type of lens which is convergent and produces an upside down image.

Concave Lens

A type of lens which is divergent but keeps the image in the same position as the original.

VLA (Very Large Array)

Cluster of 27 radio telescopes that work together to study and listen to the sounds in space

James Webb Telescope

a space telescope which uses new technology to study the universe by measuring infrared light

UV, Gamma, Infrared

Some of the wavelengths that do not make it through Earth's atmosphere

Speed = Frequence x Wavelength

Formula to calculate characteristics of light

X-ray telescopes

Used to study black holes

Initial purpose of telescope

To allow sailors to see far away ships

Optical Telescope

Most common type of telescope

GALEX

Galaxy Evolution Explorer telescope dedicated to studying the ultraviolet radiation in the universe and has given much information about the formation of galaxies

Spitzer Telescope

Studies infrared radiation in our universe and found exoplanets, dust clouds and distant galaxies