You are here:
Astronomy/Detection
Advertisement
Question
Why can't we use normal light (observable light) to detect the birth of stars and protostars but instead we need to use infrared or microwave wavelength?
Hello.
Proto-stars have not yet ignited their nuclear cores, so are still burning by *contraction* only - with gravitational potential energy converted into heat, radiant energy.
The problem is that this is very inefficient, so the stars remains cool, relatively speaking.
This means their surface temperatures and radiated energy is far too low to shine in the visible light spectrum, hence cannot be detected by istruments in that spectrum.
However, the weaker energy - radiated over much longer wavelengths (e.g. infrared, microwave) *can* be picked up by the appropriate detectors. Say satellites with infrared telescopes.
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 8 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Phil, Thank you for your insightful and quick answer to my question. Can we at least say from past experiences what part of this year might be the most conducive to the Northern lights based on when the solor activity is going to peak or is that even highly conjective in nature? Thanks again. Bob Sedlar | ||
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Philip Stahl
Expertise
I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.
Experience
Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.
Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union
Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.
Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics
Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.