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Chapter 18: Problem 24

Why are observations at millimeter wavelengths so much more useful in exploring interstellar clouds than observations at visible wavelengths?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Observations at millimeter wavelengths are more useful in exploring interstellar clouds than observations at visible wavelengths because millimeter wavelengths, due to their longer wavelength and lower frequency, are less likely to be scattered and absorbed by interstellar dust and gas particles, providing a clearer view of the interstellar clouds.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the light spectrum

Light of different wavelengths behaves differently when interacting with matter. Visible light is a very small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which also includes longer wavelengths like millimeter waves.
02

Interaction of Visible Light with interstellar clouds

Visible light wavelengths are much susceptible to being scattered and absorbed by interstellar dust and gas particles. This makes it difficult to have clear images of interstellar clouds with visible light.
03

Interaction of Millimeter Wavelengths with interstellar clouds

On the other hand, millimeter waves, due to their longer wavelength, are less likely to be absorbed or scattered by these particles in the interstellar clouds, thereby giving a clearer view of the clouds, especially their dense regions.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is the daytime sky blue? Why are distant mountains purple? Why is the Sun red when seen near the horizon at sunrise or sunset? In what ways are your answers analogous to the explanations for the bluish color of reflection nebulae and the process of interstellar reddening?

What are stationary absorption lines? In what sort of spectra are they seen? How do they give evidence for the existence of the interstellar medium?

What are T Tauri stars? How do we know that they eject matter at high speed? How does their rate of mass loss compare to that of the Sun?

What are H II regions? Near what kinds of stars are they found? Why do only these stars give rise to H II regions?

Use the Starry Night Enthusiast \({ }^{\mathrm{TM}}\) program to investigate a star-forming region. Use the Find ... command in the Edit menu to find and center on M20 (the Trifid Nebula, shown in the figure that accompanies Question 31) as seen from your location. Zoom out as far as possible using the Zoom controls at the righthand end of the toolbar. Set the Time appropriately and adjust the Month and Day in the Date to answer the following questions. (Hint: You may want to remove daylight and display the local meridian to provide precise answers.) (a) On what day is M20 highest in the sky at noon? Explain how you determined this. (b) On what day is M20 highest in the sky at midnight, so that it is best placed for observing with a telescope? Explain how you determined this.
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