Using Light to See Space
- Electromagnetic waves can be used to see objects in space that are very far away.
- Read the article about how infrared radiation is used to view and study the Milky Way Galaxy.
- Find a partner and discuss the questions that follow.
Open Article
Text-Dependent Questions
- According to the article, about what percent of the light radiated by the Milky Way Galaxy is Infrared Radiation?
- Explain in your own words, why we can view the center of the galaxy using infrared light, but not with optical (visible) light?
- Cameras that capture infrared radiation will soon be used to study space on the new James Webb Space Telescope. Using evidence from the pages on this website, write a brief paragraph arguing whether this technology is a good way to study the Universe. Include details about what we can and cannot learn using infrared cameras.
