How can scientists study the composition of distant stars?

Answer 1

Analyzing Stars

Light is in a star produced by high energy levels raising the heat to a point that the molecules of the elements in the star start to "glow". Simply stated, the light spectrum of different materials causes specific anomalies in the measured light, and it is possible to detect the temperature of the star AND the elements by analyzing the light spectrum that it gives off.

spectral analysis

OR intsead of saying "GLOW"??

YOU CAN SAY BY ITS' BRIGHTNESS You can look at a star and light from a spectrometer. This is what tells what the element on the star is.

Answer 2

Most astronomical telescopes are outfitted with spectrometers. These devices examine the color of light from a star in very fine detail. The lack of certain colors, known as Fraunhofer lines or absorption lines, in the spectrum indicate the presence of certain chemical elements.

Answer 3

The answer is long and complicated, and it is too long to place here.

You need to read an entire encyclopedia articles on spectroscopy and the chemical composition of intersteller objects.

D.A.W.

Answer 4

They use a special kind of device that reads the wavelengths shown in the stars, i think. The wavelengths react differently to certain chemicals, but based on these wavelengths, the scientists can tell which chemicals are present or absent in stars.

Answer 5

Scientists are able to use an instrument known as a spectrograph to examine the sun's layers. By examining the lines in the sun's spectrum, they are able to determine the kind of gas causing this a layer or line. Every element has a unique set of lines that offer a unique solar fingerprint. Examining these fingerprints enable scientists to determine what the sun or any other star is made of.

Answer 6

Different chemical elements emit (or absorb) certain specific frequencies of light. When the light from a star is split in to it's rainbow spectrum of light, certain parts of the spectrum will be black (in absorption spectra) or brighter (in emission spectra). By comparing these lines to the known emission and absorption spectra of elements, the composition of a stars atmosphere can be determined.

Answer 7

Each element on the Periodic Table will emit a different color, it set if colors, when being burned. Astronomers look at the "Phase-Shift" of the color spectrum (or rainbow) that any given star emits. The Phase Shift refers to how the colors are balanced. More if one color over another will tell an astronomer what that star is made of.

Answer 8

They use the spectra to organize planets/stars by the color and temperature. =) That's all! :D

Answer 9

Astronomers use a magnetic sodium to see how the stars elements form and what those elements are.

Answer 10

Scientists study the composition of the distant star by measuring their electromagnetic spectrum (absorption or emission spectrum).