[~]/sombero_galaxy_revised.jpg
Picture of the Sombrero galaxy. Photo courtesy of HST/NASA/ESA. Public
domain.
  • Redshift happens when light moves away from the observer. The absorption bands in the color spectrum move towards the red, longer wavelength-end of the color spectrum.
  • Redshift shows scientists that most galaxies are moving away from us. This supports the expansion of the universe and the Big Bang Theory. 
  • Redshift of starlight from most galaxies in the universe and cosmic microwave background radiation are the two major pieces of evidence scientists use to suppor the Big Bang Theory. 
  • Blueshift happens when light moves towards the observer. The absorption bands in the color spectrum move towards the blue, shorter wavelength-end of the color spectrum
  • Scientific notation is a way to format really big or really small numbers. Example: 4.35 x 106 is scientific notation for 4,350,000 (standard notation)
  • Redshift is calculated with the following formula:

[~]/redshift_equation.JPG

     

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Last modified: Monday, 23 June 2014, 4:09 PM