⚙️ how
How do astronomers tell what a planet's atmosphere is made of?
Quick Answer
They study the light passing through or reflected from the atmosphere and look for chemical fingerprints called spectra.
The Full Story
When light from a star passes through a planet's atmosphere, certain gases absorb specific wavelengths. That leaves dark lines in the spectrum, which act like fingerprints for molecules such as water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, and sodium. This technique has become a major tool for studying exoplanets, especially during transits. Space telescopes such as Hubble and James Webb have used spectroscopy to identify atmospheric ingredients on distant worlds.
Key Facts
1.Spectroscopy detects molecules by their unique absorption lines
2.James Webb Space Telescope launched in 2021
3.Transit spectroscopy is widely used for exoplanets
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Light can tell us what alien skies are made of."
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