Question about stars and light after a trip to the Hayden Planetarium

Therefore, a brighter light can travel farther and still be seen by us. In summary, the plaque at the Hayden Planetarium described a star billions of light years away that we can see because its brightness allows it to travel a farther distance and still be visible to us due to the inverse square law of light intensity with distance. This means that not all light travels in a straight line, but rather spreads out in all directions, allowing us to see bright objects from further distances.
  • #1
joeb1990
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Ok so I was at the Hayden Planetarium and a plaque was describing a star billions of light years away that we can see because it is so much brighter. I was puzzled thinking about this. If the speed of light is constant there is no reason the intensity of it's light should affect how far away we can see it right? I mean if something is 13 billion light years away it will take 13 billion years to reach us regardless of intensity. Shouldn't we be able to see anything in this time frame as long as the light has been traveling long enough? Is it something to do with the sensitivity of the equipment? Thanks!
 
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  • #2
The light is not in one direction. Since it spreads out in all directions, the intensity in any specific direction decreases by an inverse square law with distance.
 

FAQ: Question about stars and light after a trip to the Hayden Planetarium

How do stars produce light?

Stars produce light through a process called nuclear fusion. This is when hydrogen atoms inside the star's core fuse together to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of light.

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

Stars appear to twinkle because of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. The light from the star is refracted and scattered as it passes through the atmosphere, causing the star's image to appear to shimmer or twinkle.

How far away are the stars we see in the sky?

The distance to stars varies greatly, with the closest star to Earth (besides the sun) being about 4.2 light years away. This means it takes light from that star 4.2 years to reach Earth. The farthest stars visible to the naked eye are millions of light years away.

Can we see stars from other galaxies?

Yes, with the use of telescopes, we can see stars from other galaxies. However, these stars appear as small points of light and are not as easily visible as stars in our own galaxy.

How do scientists study stars and their properties?

Scientists study stars through various methods such as spectroscopy, which involves analyzing the light emitted by stars. They also use telescopes to observe and track the movement and behavior of stars, as well as mathematical models to understand their properties and evolution.

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