“It was a dark night in the universe that knew how to keep its secrets…” Dr. Guy Worthey, AKA Detective Guy UVOIR, is on the case to uncover what galaxies are hiding. Using light, he works to unmask the mysteries of the stars.
The universe is filled with countless galaxies each filled with an immense number of stars. These galaxies are categorized into a handful of main types: Spiral, Lenticular, Elliptical, and Irregular. Each type holds its own unique characteristics.
Similarly, the stars held in these galaxies also portray different types and characteristics. From the main sequence stars similar to our Sun, to hot blue supergiants and cold red dwarfs, the stars of our universe vary greatly.
It is the job of Dr. Worthey, and those in his specialized field of Astrophysics, to find and understand what the characteristics of these stars and galaxies are. They do this with light!
Light is made up of a spectrum that spans from cosmic rays to radio broadcasts, with the rainbow of visible light being only a small part. When studying stars, scientists use light emission spectrums to determine their specific compositions. The scattered light in these stellar fingerprints are intermixed with dark bands where certain elements block that color or frequency of light.
Using this knowledge, Dr. Worthey compiles a list of elements residing in stars and galaxies which in turn gives him hints about characteristics such as the age, type, and size.
To learn more about his search to uncover the mysteries of our universe and the use of light in this endeavor, watch Dr. Guy Worthey’s First Friday Lecture using the link below!
Boise State First Friday Astronomy – Dr. Guy Worthey – October 2022