What specific phenomenon describes atmospheric gases blocking certain wavelengths of light?
Answer
Atmospheric extinction.
Atmospheric extinction is the specific term used to describe the process where molecules and various gases present within the Earth's atmosphere effectively absorb or block particular segments of the electromagnetic spectrum from reaching ground-based telescopes. This means that observations from the surface are naturally limited to wavelengths that can penetrate the air most easily, such as visible light and some radio waves, while blocking others like ultraviolet light and most infrared radiation. This forces astronomers to rely on space-based instruments to access the full spectral signature of celestial objects.
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