A star with a mass like the Sun which will soon die is observed to be surrounded by a large amount of dust and gas -- all material it has expelled in the late stages of its life. If astronomers want to observe the radiation from such a giant star surrounded by its own debris, which of the following bands of the spectrum would be the best to use to observe it?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Infrared radiation would be the best band of the spectrum to observe the radiation from a dying star surrounded by its own debris. This is because the dust and gas surrounding the star absorb visible and ultraviolet light, but emit in the infrared range. Therefore, the infrared range would allow astronomers to observe the radiation from the star and its surrounding debris without interference from the absorbing material.

A Star with a Mass Like the Sun Which Will