How we use different light to see the hidden universe
In short: Space is not just what we can see with our eyes. By capturing various wavelengths of radiation, scientists can peer through cosmic dust to witness stellar nurseries, detect extreme heat from exploding stars, and even search for organic molecules that might hint at life elsewhere.
Our understanding of the cosmos has been fundamentally reshaped by specialized technology over the last 60 years. Since the early probes of the 1950s and 1960s, NASA and its international partners have utilized a diverse fleet of satellites and telescopes to track the universe's evolution from the Big Bang to the present day. A key milestone in this journey was the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990, which forever changed our visual perspective of what the universe looks like. These missions have expanded human knowledge by exploring the vastness of time and space. Significant instances of intense upheaval are shown, which permanently altered reality.
Different celestial phenomena require different 'eyes.' For instance, while optical telescopes capture visible light, the Chandra X-ray Observatory detects X-rays produced when matter is heated to millions of degrees. This allows astronomers to trace hot gas from exploding stars or observe matter swirling as close as 90 kilometers from a stellar black hole's event horizon. Conversely, the Spitzer Space Telescope, launched in 2003, focuses on heat and infrared radiation. Orbiting our planet at roughly 17,000 mph, the Hubble space telescope continues its revolution. It does not travel to distant stars but captures images of them from its vantage point.
Infrared technology is essential for looking into 'hidden' regions like dusty stellar nurseries and the centers of galaxies. It allows scientists to observe cooler objects that are invisible to optical telescopes, such as brown dwarfs—often called failed stars—and exoplanets. Perhaps most significantly, these infrared eyes can detect organic molecules, which may hold the secrets to whether life exists on other planets in our vast universe. Spitzer's sensitive instruments can also peer into giant molecular clouds. These tools help researchers study the evolution of cosmic phenomena across different wavelengths.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Five Wonders of our Universe | Universe | BBC Earth Science
- Also: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/60counting/NASA: 60 Years & Counting - Mysteries of the Universe
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