Astronomy 1010-HFall_2015Day-23
Planetary Astronomy
Course Announcements• How is the sunset/sunrise observing going?
• SW-chapter 6 posted: due Fri. Oct. 23
• 1st Quarter Observing night: Tuesday, Oct. 20; 7:30pm
Electronic detectors record photons on pixels. Photons create a signal in the array. CCDs = charge-coupled devices (such as
digital cameras).
The electronically recorded images can greatly exceed photographs in quality.
CCD = astronomer’s detector of choice.
Red Green
Blue
Red Green
Blue
Since it is meant to be separated we don’t call it an aberration. Instead, it is called dispersion
Spectrographs disperse the incoming light into its component wavelengths.
Lets astronomers study the spectrum of an object’s light.
Diffraction is much more efficient at separating light into its colors than dispersion
Look closely enough at stars and they aren’t just points of light but rings, too
SpectrumBut visible light is only one type of electromagnetic radiation (light) emitted by stars Astronomers are truly interested in the entire spectrum of Light!
The atmosphere does not transmit all light. Nearly all X-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared
wavelengths are blocked. Satellites are needed for these wavelengths.
Consider This Class as Seen in Different Wavelengths of Light!
Orion in Infrared!
HST Views of Orion Nebula showing stars hidden in clouds
http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pr/97/13/A.html
Observations at other wavelengths are revealing previously invisible sights
UV
Ordinary visible
Infrared
Map of Orion region
Radio telescopes are large, steerable parabolic dishes with antennas.
Allow astronomers to study radio waves. Wavelengths of a centimeter to about 10 meters. Radio waves can pass through gas and dust.
Radio wavelength observations are possible from Earth’s surface
Long Wavelength…poor resolution
Single radio telescopes have poor resolution due to the long wavelengths.
Interferometric arrays combine the signals from many telescopes, increasing resolution.
Two electromagnetic waves in the same location will produce interference.
The waves will either enhance or detract from each other, resulting in constructive or destructive interference.
This can result in spectral dispersion.
CONNECTIONS 6.2CONNECTIONS 6.2
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