Each element absorbs light at specific wavelengths unique to that atom. When astronomers look at an object’s spectrum, they can determine its composition based on these wavelengths. The most common method astronomers use to determine the composition of stars, planets, and other objects is
spectroscopy
.
Which spectrum could be used to identify the composition of a star?
The spectra of the Sun and stars exhibited bright and dark lines called
Fraunhofer lines
. These were shown to be caused by elements emitting or absorbing light at specific wavelengths. Because each element emits or absorbs light only at specific wavelengths, the chemical composition of stars can be determined.
What type of spectrum can be used to determine the composition of the atmosphere of a star or planet?
Stellar spectra
can also be used to determine the chemical composition of stars; hydrogen and helium make up most of the mass of all stars. Measurements of line shifts produced by the Doppler effect indicate the radial velocity of a star.
What type of spectrum is a star?
The spectrum of a star is composed mainly of
thermal radiation that produces a continuous spectrum
. The star emits light over the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from the gamma rays to radio waves. However, stars do not emit the same amount of energy at all wavelengths.
What type of instrument is used to tell the composition of a star?
Astronomers can use
photometers
to precisely measure the amount of light emitted at specific wavelengths that correspond to the emission lines produced by heated chemical elements. This information is used to establish the chemical composition of a star.
Which color star is hottest?
White stars are hotter than red and yellow.
Blue stars
are the hottest stars of all.
What are the basic compositions of star?
Chemical composition
When stars form in the present Milky Way galaxy they are composed of
about 71% hydrogen and 27% helium
, as measured by mass, with a small fraction of heavier elements.
How do you determine the composition of a star?
The most common method astronomers use to determine the composition of stars, planets, and other objects is
spectroscopy
. Today, this process uses instruments with a grating that spreads out the light from an object by wavelength. This spread-out light is called a spectrum.
Why do stars twinkle?
As light from a star races through our atmosphere, it bounces and bumps through the different layers, bending the light before you see it. Since the hot and cold layers of air keep moving,
the bending of the light changes too
, which causes the star’s appearance to wobble or twinkle.
What are the 7 types of stars?
There are seven main types of stars. In order of decreasing temperature,
O, B, A, F, G, K, and M
.
How do you classify stars?
Astronomers classify stars according
to their physical characteristics
. Characteristics used to classify stars include color, temperature, size, composition, and brightness. Stars vary in their chemical composition.
What are the 7 spectral classes of stars?
The spectra of stars are described in terms of spectral classes. In order of decreasing temperature, these spectral classes are
O, B, A, F, G, K, M, L, T, and Y
. These are further divided into subclasses numbered from 0 to 9.
What is the most common type of star?
Red Dwarf Stars
The resulting dull red stars are actually the most common type in our galaxy but since they’re quite dim, they’re hard to see. The nearest red dwarfs are probably Proxima Centauri and Barnard’s Star, but both of these are too faint to see with the unaided eye.
What is the difference between the different types of star clusters?
There are three types of star clusters:
globular, open, and associations
. Globular clusters have diameters of 50–450 light-years, contain hundreds of thousands of stars, and are distributed in a halo around the Galaxy. … Associations are found in regions of gas and dust and contain extremely young stars.
What is the place called where you look at stars?
A planetarium (plural planetaria or planetariums)
is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation.
