Astronomy 101 1 Krisciunas TAMU
questions and Verified Answers
Interferometry - ANSWER technique in which two or more telescopes are used in tandem
to produce much better angular resolution that the telescopes could achieve individually
intensity - ANSWER amount of energy coming from light of specific wavelength in the
spectrum of an object
emission lines - ANSWER line of single color, occurs when light viewed through a diffraction
element such as a prism shows an excess of photons at or near a specific wavelength
continuous spectrum - ANSWER the emission of a continuous range of frequencies
of electromagnetic radiation
angular resolution - ANSWER the smallest angular separation that two point-like objects can
have and still be seen as distinct points of light
adaptive optics - ANSWER A technique in which telescope mirrors flex rapidly to
compensate for the bending of starlight caused by atmospheric turbulence.
absorption lines - ANSWER a set of dark lines that show frequencies at which light has
been absorbed from a star's bright spectrum
visible light range - ANSWER 400 to 700 nm
ecliptic plane - ANSWER Plane of Earth's orbit
thermal radiation - ANSWER spectrum of radiation produced by an opaque object that
depends only on the object's temperature; sometimes called blackbody radiation
questions and Verified Answers
Interferometry - ANSWER technique in which two or more telescopes are used in tandem
to produce much better angular resolution that the telescopes could achieve individually
intensity - ANSWER amount of energy coming from light of specific wavelength in the
spectrum of an object
emission lines - ANSWER line of single color, occurs when light viewed through a diffraction
element such as a prism shows an excess of photons at or near a specific wavelength
continuous spectrum - ANSWER the emission of a continuous range of frequencies
of electromagnetic radiation
angular resolution - ANSWER the smallest angular separation that two point-like objects can
have and still be seen as distinct points of light
adaptive optics - ANSWER A technique in which telescope mirrors flex rapidly to
compensate for the bending of starlight caused by atmospheric turbulence.
absorption lines - ANSWER a set of dark lines that show frequencies at which light has
been absorbed from a star's bright spectrum
visible light range - ANSWER 400 to 700 nm
ecliptic plane - ANSWER Plane of Earth's orbit
thermal radiation - ANSWER spectrum of radiation produced by an opaque object that
depends only on the object's temperature; sometimes called blackbody radiation
