Which wavelengths effectively pierce the obscuring interstellar dust clouds?
Answer
Infrared and radio waves
To bypass the severe blockage caused by dense interstellar dust and gas clouds—a problem known as extinction—astronomers rely on longer wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Specifically, infrared radiation and radio waves possess the ability to pass through these obscuring materials much more easily than visible light. Infrared observations help reveal the heat signatures of obscured stars, while radio waves are used to detect emissions from abundant hydrogen gas clouds, providing crucial data points for constructing a three-dimensional structural map.
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