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> ...the object's electromagnetic spectrum was consistent with white titanium dioxide paint... Isn't this just a fancy way of saying that it was white?
by dokem 12y ago
> ...the object's electromagnetic spectrum was consistent with white titanium dioxide paint...
Isn't this just a fancy way of saying that it was white?
- Sharlin 12y agoNo. It means it, spectroscopically, looked specifically like titanium dioxide paint, and not just any arbitrary white material. Its spectral lines were consistent with titanium dioxide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_line http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_line
- chuable 12y agoif 'fancy way of saying' means it has a specific chemical composition then sure, yes it's a way of saying it was white.
- rexreed 12y agoNot exactly, some compounds absorb and reflect different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. In paticular, titanium dioxide: "Some compounds, like titanium oxide, only appear in the spectra of very cool stars." [1] Obviously this wasn't a star, so it must be a manmade object. [1] From http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/proj/advanced/spectraltypes/lines.asp http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/proj/advanced/spectraltypes...