How can astronomers figure out what kind of atoms are in stars?

Answer 1

Scientists and astronomers find out about stars because they have special tools like telescopes to see them from trillions of miles away. Some of these telescopes look at visible light, and some look at other frequencies such as gamma rays, radio waves, or thermal emissions. The Hubble Space Telescope is a telescope that orbits Earth, taking pictures of supernovas, stars, and other space objects (even planets around other stars). The pictures are very detailed, making it easy for people to study them. Of course, a star's brightness depends on its size, how far it is from Earth, and whether there are any gas or dust clouds in the intervening space.

Answer 2

Excellent question, before I launch into a huge explanation, allow me to give you the short layman's answer for those who wish to escape the tedium to learning large physics concepts. The simple answer is that scientists will use the fact that a star is moving relative to the Earth, to observe changes in light emitted from the stars, to determine the chemical composition of the star. Now for those willing to understand further I cannot give a comprehensive explanation but I will try to explain the basic concepts to the best of my ability.

Emission spectrum

The emission spectrum of an element or compound is the relative intensity of electromagnetic radiation of each frequency emitted by atoms or molecules of that element or compound when they are excited. Each atom's atomic emission spectrum is unique and can be used to determine if that element is part of an unknown compound. Similarly, the emission spectra of molecules can be used for chemical analysis. When the electrons in the atom are excited, for example by being heated, the additional energy pushes the electrons to higher energy orbits. When the electrons fall back down and leave the excited state, energy is re-emitted in the form of a photon. The wavelength (or, equivalently, frequency) of the photon is determined by the difference in energy between the two states. These emitted photons form the element's emission spectrum.

The fact that only certain colors appear in an element's atomic emission spectrum means that only certain frequencies of light are emitted. Each of these frequencies are related to energy by the formula:

E=hv

Where E is the energy of the photon, ν is its frequency, and h is Planck's constant. This concludes that only photons having certain energies are emitted by the atom. The principle of the atomic emission spectrum explains the varied colors in neon signs, as well as chemical flame test results mentioned above. The frequencies of light that an atom can emit are dependent on states the electrons can be in. When excited, an electron moves to a higher energy level/orbital. When the electron falls back to its ground level the light is emitted.

Spectroscopy

Light consists of electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths. Therefore, when the elements or their compounds are heated either on a flame or by an electric arc they emit energy in form of light. Analysis, of this light, with the help of spectroscope gives us a discontinuous spectrum. A spectroscope or a spectrometer is a instrument which is used for separating the components of light, which have different wavelengths. The spectrum appears in a series of line called line spectrum. This line spectrum is also called the Atomic Spectrum because it originates in the element. Each element has a different atomic spectrum.The production of line spectra by the atoms of an element, indicates that an atom can radiate only certain amount of energy. This leads to the conclusion that electrons cannot have any amount of energy but only a certain amount of energy.

The emission spectrum can be used to determine the composition of a material, since it is different for each element of the Periodic Table. One example is astronomical spectroscopy: identifying the composition of stars by analyzing the received light. The emission spectrum characteristics of some elements are plainly visible to the naked eye when these elements are heated. For example, when platinum wire is dipped into a strontium nitrate solution and then inserted into a flame, the strontium atoms emit a red color. Similarly, when copper is inserted into a flame, the flame becomes green. These definite characteristics allow elements to be identified by their atomic emission spectrum. Not all lights emitted by the spectrum are viewable to the naked eye, it also includes ultra violet rays and infra red lighting, an emission is formed when an excited gas is viewed directly though a spectroscope.

To conclude

From above, the emission spectrum of a star is viewed with spectroscopy to analyze and determine the separate elements within the star. As an interesting sidenote, the information found above can also help astrologists to find the speed of a star moving towards or away from the detecting source, this is deemed redshift.

Answer 3

Each element on the periodic table absorbs a set of specific frequencies of light, which form its signature. When scientists analyze the light coming from distant stars, they look for the known elemental signatures within the spectrum. This is called spectroscopy.

Answer 4

There are no telescopes powerful enough that can tell what atoms are in stars. And also stars dont have atoms since they arent matter they are made of plasma same as fire

Answer 5

spectrograph

Answer 6

They analyze the spectrum of the star.