Seeing the Universe

Longest wavelength and lowest energy is radio light...

Very Long Baseline Array

 

Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)

Next comes microwave... yep, the energy you use to zap popcorn...

 

Then infrared-used to control your VCR...

The Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC)

 

Then the most familiar family of photons-visible light.

 

 

We've all seen rainbows... where raindrops serve as miniature prisms to break the sun's white light up into different colors.

In fact, what we call "color" is just light of a different wavelength, made by photons of different energies.

 

 

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum explained in simple terms using real-life examples.

Imagine the Universe
An introduction on the electromagnetic spectrum including why we need to go into space to see the entire spectrum.

Electromagnetic Spectrum
This site explains each type of electromagnetic radiation, its uses and the dangers from too much exposure to the radiation.

Interactive Multimedia Adventures for Grade-school Education Using Remote Sensing (IMAGERS)
A simple explanation of electromagnetic radiation including each type of radiation, how we "see" using that type of radiation and what that type of radiation shows us.

NASA's Observatorium
An introduction to the electromagnetic spectrum.

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