How do we know what other planets (and stars, galaxies, etc.) are made of?

Answer 1

The spectrometer is a very important tool when it comes to astronomy. It measures the frequencies of light waves and by this we can tell what the composition of a star or planet is. Certain elements emit or reflect very precise wavelengths of light such as red, violet, infra red, x-rays, ect.. Astronomy isn't the only place spectrometers are used. I work in a die casting factory where we melt down aluminum to make transmission housings. We have to add certain chemicals to the molten aluminum and we use a spectrometer to make sure we have the mixture right.
I hope this helps.

Answer 2

WE cannot go up in space and dig up a star to find out its composition.When a materials burns a flame give off different radiation . We analyse light radiation from the flame or plasma if its a fusion reaction with a spectrograph.Different materials give of different patterns of radiation. Due to this process the composition of a sample can be determined.
So the plasma of a star can be annalysed and its composition determined. The Universe is made of mostly of space subtance. Mass structure is mixed with space and form a volume which is the architecture of atomic structures.
The mass struture of star is composed mostly of hydrogen.
,which is Used to create nuclear fusion.

Exept for the Earth , which contains all the elements ,most of the Planets are made up of frozen hydrogen. Its Bassically the same material as an active star except its frozen and does not produce intrinsically radiation power.
If a star is considered as a light bulk that shines in the Universe a Galaxy is the one of the powefull chandelier of the Universe containing trillions of stars, that can be seen a longer distance than if iwas just one star..
So a galaxiy is a large group of stars contained into a particular shape.
The Universe contain all the Galaxies ,also in a particular formation of shape.
By the Use of Kepller's law, cosmologists are able to determine the mass of different planets. And of course with relativity theory they can accuratly determine Gravity.How accurate is also a question.

Answer 3

The simplest method is spectroscopy. All excited atoms emit a unique range of light frequencies (e.g. yellow street lamps are sodium lamps) or absorb specific frequencies of light. Stellar spectroscopy is based on absorption spectra which will look like black lines superimposed on a rainbow. The black lines give a fingerprint of the elements in the star.

As an example Helium was discovered in the Sun by spectroscopy before it had been found on Earth.

Answer 4

Remember that the light from stars comes from the burning of the materials in the star. We have instruments that can analyze the light given off and tell us what kind of stuff is being burnt.

Answer 5

those issues spin because of the fact there's no friction to end those products from spinning. there's no friction in area so issues basically save spinning on an identical fee or following an identical course on an identical speed until they are bumped by something else. There are explosions, collisions and all styles of dynamic workings interior the universe. Somethings spin quicker than others. Neutron stars spin incredibly quickly because of the fact they have decreased in length and their angular acceleration has better dramatically. reminiscent of an ice skater pulling their hands in for the duration of a spin. They speed up. One neutron famous person particularly spins at a fee of 760 situations according to 2d. to verify that an merchandise to end spinning it could could desire to take an merchandise of the appropriate mass, on the appropriate perspective, and on the main appropriate speed to bump in to a distinctive merchandise and end it from spinning. genuinely it could be impossible for something to end spinning thoroughly. i'm hoping this facilitates. braxton_paul has an staggering answer

Answer 6

Probably because of what "the man" has told us what it is made of so they can keep their Federal Funding -

Liked the joke about the Sunday School girl dozing off to sleep!!!!

Answer 7

We guess, by measuring what radiation and the like they give off. In our solar system, however, we know what pretty much everything's made of because we've visited it.

Answer 8

good question. wouldnt it be good if you could just roam the whole of space and never stop. i think the time may come when you die if you are a spirit. surley the impossible can be achived if you are a spirit. just think of the places you could travel to and the welath of information you would find. anyways this is getting away from the point lol .
regards.

Answer 9

Spectrography and other forms of electromagnetic radiation analysis.

You will have to look all of that up. Too much to type....

Answer 10

little green men told nasa