We also learned about black holes, which are called buchi neri in Italian. A black hole has a boundary called an event horizon, beyond which nothing, including light, can escape. Astronomers can investigate these objects by studying their effects on nearby stars and the light produced by matter around them.
One part of the presentation that particularly interested me was how astronomers figure out what stars are made of. They use a technique called spectroscopy, which separates light into its different wavelengths. Elements absorb and emit light at characteristic wavelengths, leaving recognizable patterns in a spectrum. By studying those patterns, astronomers can identify elements in a star’s atmosphere and learn about its temperature and motion. All of that information reaches us through light.
I usually spend my time studying biology, so I enjoyed an evening of a different kind of science. And now, when I hear about vampires at Halloween, I’ll have stars to think about too!
