Which analytical process allows astronomers to measure the specific elements and their proportions in a nebula?
Answer
Spectroscopic analysis
Determining the precise elemental makeup of a distant nebula is achieved through spectroscopic analysis. This technique involves spreading the light originating from or passing through the nebula out into its constituent colors, creating a spectrum. Specific absorption or emission lines appear in this spectrum, which correspond directly to the energy transitions occurring within the atoms and ions of particular elements. This process provides measurements for both the identity of the elements present and their relative proportions, as well as physical conditions like temperature and density.
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