File:Isolating a Planet's Spectrum.jpg

From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Original file(3,000 × 2,400 pixels, file size: 1.39 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

Captions

Captions

Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents

Summary[edit]

Description
English: This diagram illustrates how astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope can capture the elusive spectra of hot-Jupiter planets. Spectra are an object's light spread apart into its basic components, or wavelengths. By dissecting light in this way, scientists can sort through it and uncover clues about the composition of the object giving off the light.

To obtain a spectrum for an object, one first needs to capture its light. Hot-Jupiter planets are so close to their stars that even the most powerful telescopes can't distinguish their light from the light of their much brighter stars.

But, there are a few planetary systems that allow astronomers to measure the light from just the planet by using a clever technique. Such "transiting" systems are oriented in such a way that, from our vantage point, the planets' orbits are seen edge-on and cross directly in front of and behind their stars.
Date
Source http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/image/58
Author NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC/Caltech)

Licensing[edit]

Public domain This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". (See Template:PD-USGov, NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy.)
Warnings:

File history

Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.

Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current16:44, 27 January 2013Thumbnail for version as of 16:44, 27 January 20133,000 × 2,400 (1.39 MB)Stas1995 (talk | contribs)User created page with UploadWizard

There are no pages that use this file.

Metadata