Prologue

• Designer: Eric Kimsey

• The following powerpoint presentation was designed to fulfill
the requirements of the TAPS program at Jefferson Labs in
Newport News, VA summer 2006.
• This presentation was also designed to accompany and
expound upon the topic of Light and the Electromagnetic
Spectrum as required by the state of Virginia Physical Science
SOL’s (PS.9c).
Spectroscopy
A Tool of Astronomers
 Definitions
• Spectroscopy- the study of the light from an
object.
• Spectrometer- an instrument which spreads out
light making a spectra.
• Spectra- range of electromagnetic energy
separated by wavelength.
Astronomers use spectroscopy
because it allows them to determine
the makeup of stars… without
having to be present to take
samples.
Studying an objects spectra can tell
scientists the composition of an object,
its temperature, its density and its
motion.
Two modern applications of
spectroscopy in space…
 Mars Exploration Mission
The Mars Exploration Rovers were launched with the goal of
searching for and analyzing rock and soils on Mars. They utilized
several spectrometers to analyze samples.

Mini-TES: miniature thermal emission

spectrometer (examine rock, soil &
atmosphere)

MB: Mossbauer Spectrometer

(examine mineralogy of rocks &
soils)

APXS: Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer

(analyze elements in rocks & soils)
Cassini-Hyugen’s Mission
Mission: to gather information
on Titan (Saturn’s moon).

VIMS: Visual and Infrared

Mapping Spectrometer (gather
data about surface, rings &
atmosphere of Titan and
Saturn).
CIRS: Composite Infrared
Spectrometer (searches for
heat and by that gather
information on the object’s
composition.
 2 Basic Types of Spectra
• Continuous- energy of all wavelengths
• Discrete- energy at a particular wavelength
– Emission or bright lines
– Absorption or dark lines
 Continuous Spectrum
• Also called thermal or
blackbody spectra
• Spectra of stars,
planets, moons
• Depends on
temperature
Ex: sunlight passing
through a prism
 Continuous Spectrum
continued

Hotter objects
Shift toward this end
Longer
wavelength

Shorter
wavelength

Cooler objects
Shift toward this end
 Discrete Spectrum

Absorption
Each element
has a unique
signature of
absorption
Ex: stars, lines. That
planets w/ pattern helps
atmospheres, scientists
& galaxies identify the
element(s).

Spectra Cool,
thin gas Absorption
spectrum
Hot object
 Discreet spectrum- Again, the
pattern of the
Emission lines
determines
the identity of
the element.

Ex: comets, nebula

& certain stars

Cold, Thin,hot
empty Emission
gas
space spectrum

Spectra
 Motion of Objects in Space
Compare the dark lines in the middle spectra to
the dark lines in the other two spectra. Blue shift shows object is
moving toward the observer.

This shows the

normal position or
no motion.

This shows a red shift

meaning that the
object is moving away
from the observer.
Spectroscopy Lab

Determining the Spectra

of Certain Elements
 What type of spectra
is shown here?

• Continuous
• Absorption
• Emission
 What type of spectra
is shown here?

• Continuous
• Absorption
• Emission
Why does this picture represent just the
continuous spectrum of light?
Light is just one portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum.

Name 5 other parts of the EM

spectrum.
 Acknowledgements

• www.ipac.caltech.edu/Outreach/Edu/Spectra/spec.html
• www.astronomynotes.com/lights4.htm
• http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments-cassini-cirs.cfm
• http://pmo-sun.uoregon.edu/~astrosites.html
• http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/overview
No way! Were you sleeping?

Back to question #1
YES, we have a winner!

To next question….
Pat yourself on the back!

Next question
That is a definite NO!

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