Spectra



This image shows spectral information collected from the Earth's moon.
The image shows areas of the moon where different minerals are.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image provided courtesy of JPL/NASA
Minerals of a planet's surface, and molecules of an atmosphere emit light of various wavelengths. The wavelengths of light which minerals or molecules emit is characteristic of each individual mineral or molecule, and is called that mineral or molecule's spectra. Thus the spectra of a mineral or molecule is like a human fingerprint, and can be used to identify it.

When studying the planets, scientists have designed instruments which can collect separate wavelengths of light. The light received from a planet is separated by means of a mirror or several mirrors, into separate wavelengths. Instruments such as these help scientists determine what a planet is made out of. Such an instrument is called a spectrometer.

The image to the left of the Earth's moon was made by examining the moon through different wavelengths of light, then recombining them into one picture. Some minerals emit more light in the blue than the red, and so on. These minerals stand out in the picture. The colors of the picture are enhanced to better show the contrast. Pink is very old, pulverized terrain, oranges and blues are lunar lava flows composed of granite-like rock, light blue are mineral-rich deposits associated with meteorite impacts.




Spectra



This image shows spectral information collected from the Earth's moon.
The image shows areas of the moon where different minerals are.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image provided courtesy of JPL/NASA
Minerals of a planet's surface, and molecules of an atmosphere give off light of various colors. Some rocks emit more light in the blue end of the spectrum than the red, and so on. These colors are very hard to see without special cameras. The colors are different for each individual mineral or molecule, and is called that mineral or molecule's spectra. Thus the spectra of a mineral or molecule is like a human fingerprint, and can be used to identify it.

When studying the planets, scientists use special cameras which can collect separate colors of light. Instruments such as these help scientists determine what a planet is made from. Such an instrument is called a spectrometer.

The picture shows what information is gained from spectra. (The colors of the picture have been falsely changed). Pink is very old pulverized ground, oranges and blues are lava flows, light blue are areas which are rich in minerals which have come from meteorites.




Spectra



This image shows spectral information collected from the Earth's moon.
The image shows areas of the moon where different minerals are.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image provided courtesy of JPL/NASA
Minerals of a planet's surface, and molecules of an atmosphere give off light of various colors. Some rocks emit more light in the blue end of the spectrum than the red, and so on. These colors are very hard to see without special cameras. The colors are different for each individual mineral or molecule. These colors are called the molecule's spectra. So, the spectra of a mineral or molecule is like a human fingerprint, and can be used to identify it.

When studying the planets, scientists use special cameras which can collect separate colors of light. Instruments such as these help scientists determine what a planet is made from. Such an instrument is called a spectrometer.

The picture shows the information that is gained from spectra. (The colors of the picture have been falsely changed). Pink is very old ground, oranges and blues are lava flows, light blue are areas which are rich in minerals which have come from meteorites.





Last modified February 16, 1998 by the Windows Team

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