When scientists started learning more about light and light waves, they realized that there are various kinds of light and the wavelengths can be wide or tightly packed. As they studied the planets they began to recognize that light can be perceived in different shades of color based on the wavelength, and that wavelength can change based on a star’s temperature. BLACKBODY RADIATION: There is a type of science physics called ‘blackbody radiation’ that was developed and continued to examine the different temperatures and colors of stars. It seems that the stars with ‘cooler’ temperatures have energy that is radiated in the red tones of the electromagnetic color spectrum, while those with ‘hotter’ temperatures had energy that is radiated in the blue and white tones of the electromagnetic color spectrum. This makes the cooler stars appear red and the stars with the higher temperatures appear blue or white. From cool to hot, the colors can appear red, orange, yellow, green and blue. If you remember the colors of the rainbow, you will see that these are in the same order. There is another important factor that can alter a stars color. If the star has any elements in its atmosphere it can change the light wavelength and that will cause a change in the color that we measure or observe. This may explain why there are so many different colors in the stars that are being studied. So, as you can see, the color of a star depends upon the temperature as well as any atmospheric contributions it may have to distort the measurable temperature. Scientists have developed very sensitive equipment that works with the telescopes to observe and note the rainbow colors of stars that we can see. This is the science of spectroanalysis and the scientists can detect not only the star’s color, but what the star is actually made up of. The elements of a star will help as we classify the solar systems and galaxies that we discover. Stars really do have class!
15 Comments
Sorry my comment was a glitch. I really love those photos!
1/21/2016 05:42:14 pm
I am just going to say hi because of glitchy wifi!
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Eleda
1/21/2016 05:43:23 pm
My wifi is being with red, I'll try again later😏
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sammi
1/21/2016 06:26:21 pm
sorry about yesterday i was having fun in sammi world have you guys ever been there? well obviously NOT your name isn't SAMMI!!!!!!!
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Emma
1/21/2016 07:01:29 pm
Those colors are so pretty and cool!
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Athena
1/21/2016 07:34:30 pm
they found a ninth planet in our solar system
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Kitty
11/5/2023 01:54:43 pm
The ninth planet is Pluto
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Olivia Barlow
1/22/2016 06:28:31 am
Stars rock
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Hailey
1/22/2016 07:06:01 am
I love different colors of stars ...even though I've never seen them..
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sammi
1/22/2016 12:59:57 pm
ummmmmm so im kinda waiting for the blog to change.......sooooo ya see ya later im goin to SAMMI WORLD!!!! you might be hearing from my assistant soon
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mastrofy
3/10/2024 03:11:19 am
I think the blue stars are really hot ;)
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |