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Can someone enlighten me on how it's possible for a space telescope to detect far away molecules? I suppose it's not actually seeing the molecules themselves,
by napsterbr 3y ago
Can someone enlighten me on how it's possible for a space telescope to detect far away molecules?
I suppose it's not actually seeing the molecules themselves, but something that proves the molecules are there. The article mentions:
> UV rays [...] provided the energy to form the molecules
Is that it? The telescope detected UV rays, which necessarily (according to the scientists) correlates to the creation of methyl cations?
- Georgelemental 3y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emission_spectrum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emission_spectrum https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/miri.html https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/miri.h... In short, the CH3+ emits light at a very specific wavelength, which can be detected.
- jen729w 3y agoWhich isn’t really surprising/weird because all light is emitted by something. That something has a signature thanks to physics: the photons of light are emitted according to the structure of the atom. Basically. Of course it’s a tad more nuanced. Emitted light has a signature, and things that absorb light can also impart their own signature.
- zelphirkalt 3y agoWell, the simple fact, that light is emmitted does not necessarily imply, that the signature must be unique or very specific to any molecule. That is something with probably a way more complicated explanation, if one wants to dig deeper. I suspect something something quantum will also play a role, so probably without studying physics not properly understandable in depth.
- danbruc 3y agoI would have assumed that they detected this by the absorption spectrum imprinted on the spectrum of the star, not as the emission spectrum of the cloud itself.
- hsjqllzlfkf 3y agoSomeone else already gave you the answer, but I think this is a better link https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopy > Spectroscopy is a branch of science concerned with the spectra of electromagnetic radiation as a function of its wavelength or frequency measured by spectrographic equipment, and other techniques, in order to obtain information concerning the structure and properties of matter
- verisimi 3y agoEasy. It's a very good telescope! Er, microscope. Both!