Astronomers can look at the spectra created by different elements and compare these with the spectra of stars. This is known as a spectrum (plural: spectra). When a beam of white light strikes a triangular prism it is separated into its various components (ROYGBIV). The most accurate way to measure redshift is by using spectroscopy. In the case of light waves, this is called blueshift. As an object moves towards us, sound and light waves are bunched up, so the pitch of the sound is higher, and light waves are moved towards the blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum, where light has a shorter wavelength. In the case of light waves, this is called redshift. As an object moves away from us, the sound or light waves emitted by the object are stretched out, which makes them have a lower pitch and moves them towards the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum, where light has a longer wavelength.ĭoppler effect example: Sound waves from a police car siren. Redshift is an example of the Doppler Effect. For example, if an object is redder than we expected we can conclude that it is moving away from us, and if it is bluer we can tell that it is moving towards us. Redshift: Motion and color What is Redshift?Īstronomers can learn about the motion of cosmic objects by looking at the way their color changes over time or how it differs from what we expected to see.
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