Exploring the Universe with Technology

8.ETS1: Engineering Design 

2) Research and communicate information to describe how data from technologies (e.g., telescopes, satellites, space probes, seismographs) provide information about Earth and objects in space and how those scientific discoveries have in turn led to improved technologies

​Exploring the Universe with Technology

Word Cloud

What technology was mentioned in the article you read and the research you completed for technology used to study the universe?

(You do not have to use the exact name)

Tools for Studying the Universe

Scientists use a number of tools to study the universe. The main types of unmanned tools include:

• spectroscopes

• telescopes

• satellites

• probes

• Electromagnetic radiation interacts with objects and materials

• Each material tends to behave consistently in terms of which types of radiation it absorbs, reflects, or emits (gives off).

• When a material absorbs or emits a unique set of different colors of visible light, the characteristic set of color bands observed through a spectroscope is the material's spectrum.

​

​Spectroscopes

​Spectroscopes

• For example, the element helium was named after the Sun because its spectrum was first found coming from the Sun.

• Viewed through a spectroscope, the light coming from hot helium produces a spectrum like the one shown below.

  ​

• Since scientists know the characteristic spectra of different materials, such as helium, present here on Earth, they can compare these spectra to others obtained by viewing distant objects in space through a spectroscope.

• Just by looking at the spectra of glowing objects such as galaxies, stars, and nebula, scientists can tell what they are made of.

Let's Practice!

Multiple Select

Scientists use different types of waves to identify the composition of distant stars and planets. Each star or planet will emit different kinds of electromagnetic waves, which can be matched up to known elements on Earth. This is how we know what stars are made of.

Find the paper that has the full spectrum of Unknown Star A. Place one of the known element spectrums in the box below the star spectrum. If ALL the lines from the element spectrum are found in the exact same place in the star spectrum, then that element is present in the star.

Repeat these steps with each element spectrum, recording each element that is present in Unknown Star A.

• Hydrogen

• Helium

• Iron

• Sulphur

• Oxygen

Multiple Select

Find the paper that has the full spectrum of Unknown Star B. Place one of the known element spectrums in the box below the star spectrum. If ALL the lines from the element spectrum are found in the exact same place in the star spectrum, then that element is present in the star.

Repeat these steps with each element spectrum, recording each element that is present in Unknown Star B.

• Hydrogen

• Helium

• Iron

• Sulphur

• Oxygen

Multiple Choice

This picture is an example of a(n)...

• absorption spectrum
• emission spectrum
• continuous spectrum
• black body spectrum

Multiple Choice

We primarily use emission/absorption spectra to identify ____________ of stars.

• composition

• temperature

• luminosity

• frankfurter

Multiple Select

Choose all that apply. A star's spectra tells us what about a star.

• composition of that star (what elements make up that star)

• movement of a star (red shift or blue shift)

• brightness of a star

• temperatures of a star

Multiple Choice

This unknown star contains 

• beryllium
• copper
• manganese
• strontium

Multiple Choice

Which elements are present in the mixture?

• D and E

• D and G

• E and G

• only D

• only G

Telescopes

• Many different types

• Ground Vs. Space- based (set on satellites)

  • space-based telescopes can gather better data because there is no interference from Earth's atmosphere.

• Any telescope can help astronomers gather information about distant objects:

  • composition, movement (towards or away from Earth), temperature​

• Different kinds of telescopes are designed to observe different parts of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum.

• Because different wavelengths of light are produced and blocked by different things, each telescope can reveal unique parts of the universe.

Comparison of Telescopes

​Attribute	​X-Ray Telescopes	​Light Telescopes	​Radio Telescopes
​Wavelength Observed	​X-Rays	​Visible Light	​Radio Waves
​Atmosphere Penetration	​Cannot penetrate Earth's Atmosphere	​Partially Penetrates	​Penetrates
​Sources Detected	​High energy objects, hot gases, supernova remnants	​stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae	​distant galaxies, pulsars, cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR)
​Usage Conditions	​Space-based only	​Space-based or Ground-based; weather dependent	​ground-based, all weather, day or night
​Key Discoveries	​Exploring high-energy processes in the universe	​Detailed images of objects in the universe	​Discovery of CMBR, search for ET signals

The above image is a map of the entire sky made by x-ray telescopes. The black streaks are places where data is missing. Blue indicates the most energetic x-rays, and red indicates the least energetic x-rays.

XRay Telescopes

The image above is of part of the night sky as seen with visible light. Specifically, it is the part of the night sky through which the Milky Way runs. The image should be packed with the bright stars that fill the center of our galaxy, but dust obscures the view, blocking out the visible light.

Light Telescopes

The above image is a map of the entire sky taken with radio telescopes. Light in this part of the spectrum indicates the presence of strong magnetic fields, much stronger than the one that causes the needle of a compass to point north here on Earth. The Milky Way Galaxy runs along the center of the image. The Sun is not shown here, but the Sun is the brightest radio source in the Earth's sky.

​​Radio Telescopes

Multiple Choice

The best thing about radio telescopes is: 

• They can receive data any time of day and in any weather
• They can receive very high frequency signals
• They receive gamma rays
• They can intercept signals between planets 

Satellites

• A satellite is an unmanned spacecraft that is put into orbit around the Earth.

• Currently about 5,000 satellites orbiting the Earth.

• Some of the technologies that depend on satellites: cellular phones, GPS, and weather tracking systems

• Many satellites in orbit around the Earth are meant to help study the universe.

  • Some of these satellites are telescopes, the most famous of which is the Hubble Space Telescope.

Probes

• A probe is an unmanned spacecraft carrying instruments intended for use in exploration of the physical properties of celestial bodies other than Earth.

  • Ex: Rovers

• Probes have traveled further than any other man-made object in history.

• Much of the information we have about the other planets and moons in our solar system actually came from probes.

  • Every planet in our solar system has been closely observed by a space probe.

• Examine many properties of planets and moons:

  • atmospheres, weather, magnetic fields, surface features, and many other features of planets and moons.

Hubble Space Telescope

• 1990- Present

• First of the Great Observatories to be launched into orbit.

• Uses light in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet ranges of the EM spectrum to produce images of space objects and send them back to Earth.

• The Hubble Space Telescope is credited with helping scientists to discover the age of the universe.

Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

• 1991-2004

• Second of the Great Observatories.

• Known for allowing scientists to see a large structure at the center of the galaxy that may be a remnant of the eruption of a black hole.

  • This structure is 50,000 light years in size.
    

Chandra Xray observatory

• 1999- Present

• Third Great Observatory

• Smoothest mirrors ever made.

• Uses radiation in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum to make images of high-energy objects and events.

• The data gathered helps scientists understand change in the universe.

• For example, it has produced pictures of what remains after a star explodes (A supernova)
  

Spitzer space telescope

• 2004- Present

• Last of the four Great Observatories.

• Uses light in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum to produce images of the universe.

• An infrared telescope is a particularly useful tool for seeing through clouds of dust and gas which would obstruct the view from telescopes, such as the Hubble, that use visible light.
  

Multiple Choice

A spectroscope or a spectrometer is an instrument which is used for separating the components of light into different wavelengths. Astronomers often use spectroscopes and the resulting emission spectra to

• identify elements found in distant stars

• determine how fast an object is moving

• determine relative distances in space

• identify dark matter and black holes

Multiple Select

What are some useful benefits of satellites? Choose 2.

• They take images of celestial objects too distant for humans to explore.

• They transport humans to the International Space Station.

• They provide television, phone, navigational services, and weather information.

• They deliver rovers to distant planets for observation.

• They travel to distant planets to test atmospheres.

Multiple Choice

A spacecraft that travels through space or lands on surfaces to examine, collect samples and send data back to Earth. 

• space probes
• space shuttle
• satellite
• space station

Multiple Choice

Sends, receives or bounce back information sent to different areas of Earth from space. Allows us to see our favorite tv shows.  

• Satellite
• Probes
• radio telescope
• Hubble telescope