~Electromagnetic Spectrum~

Click here: The "so bad it's good" Electromagnetic Spectrum Song!

The Electromagnetic Spectrum is the entire collection of radiation released by stars.

Light particles are called "photons." Photons travel like a wave.

Radiation from stars is classified based on it's wavelength.

Click here: Wavelength Definition

What is wavelength?

Wavelengths of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

 

Click here: Wavelengths and Color / Learn More from NASA

Look at the picture of the electromagnetic spectrum. See if you can find answers to these questions:

1. What kind of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?

2. What kind of electromagnetic radiation has the longest wavelength?

3. What kind of electromagnetic radiation has a wavelenth that spans between the diameter of a baseball to the length of a soccer field?

4. What kind of electromagnetic radiation has a wavelenth that is about the diameter of one water molecule?

5. Some insects, like bees, can see light of shorter wavelengths than humans can detect. What kind of radiation do you think a bee sees?

Who is Mr. Roy G. Biv?

He is a mnemonic device to help remember the correct sequence of colors in the rainbow (visible light spectrum).

(Red - Orange - Yellow - Green - Blue - Indigo - Violet)

~Rainbows~

Click here: Rainbows / Prisms

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~Telescopes~

Telescopes look at distant objects in space using various wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Click here: Spectrum Analysis Telescopes / 400th Anniversary in 2008 / Telescopes / Amazing History

Click here: Chandra X-Ray Observatory (shown above)

Click here: Spitzer Infra-Red Space Telescope (shown above)

Click here: Radio Telescope Dishes (shown above)

Mirrors and Lenses / Reflection and Refraction / Optical Telesescopes / Galileo / Optic Interactive / Eyes

(Shown Above and Below) The Hubble Space Telescope / Hubble in History / Hubble Image Gallery

~ FUTURE TELESCOPES ~

Below: The Great Magellan Reflecting Telescope in Chile, South America (Completed by 2016)

Below: The James Webb Space Telescope (Launch Date: 2013)

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