This document discusses how different types of electromagnetic radiation are detected and used in astronomy. It provides links to videos and websites about radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays. Students are instructed to view the videos and websites to learn about the discovery of each type of radiation, how telescopes and detectors observe them, and what can be seen in space using each wavelength. Questions are provided for students to answer to help them understand the material.

1. Powell/Astronomy
How can we detect Electromagnetic radiation outside the visible spectrum?
How are the various type of waves used in astronomy?
1. The picture above shows the varying frequency and wavelength in the EM spectrum.
2. This diagram shows a 3-D view of EM waves. We will demonstrate this 3-D structure in
class using polarizing lenses. Have you heard of polarized sunglasses? How do they work?
3.
4. Examine the polarizedfilterstosee how itaffectsthe amountof lightthat can be seen.
5. Whatdid you observeand why did this happen?
(thisisa lab to be performedinclass)
Let’slookat the varioustypesof radiation andhow theycan be detectedandusedinastronomy.
6. Radio waves

2. Powell/Astronomy
 Start withthisYouTube videoonradiowaves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxLcwIMYmr0
 Thenwatch an Edpuzzle videoonNASA radiowaves
 Go to thiswebsite https://science.nasa.gov/ems/05_radiowaves andanswerthese
questions:
1. Who discoveredradiowavesinlate 1800s?
Here is a linkabouthisdiscoveries https://nationalmaglab.org/education/magnet-
academy/history-of-electricity-magnetism/pioneers/heinrich-hertz
2. What are radiotelescopesusedfor?
3. If we use a radiotelescope turnedto408 MHz what wouldbe see inthe sky?
7. Microwaves
 Watch edpuzzle NASA microwaves
 Go to thisNASA site andanswerthese questions
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/06_microwaves
1. List 3 usesof microwaves asdiscussed on thiswebsite.
2. What was discoveredbyscientistsinBellLaboratorythatprovidedinformationthat
supportedthe bigbangtheory?
8. IR or infraredradiation
 Watch EDpuzzle NASA Infraredwaves
 Go to thisNASA site toanswerthese questions
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves
1. Who discoveredIRwavesandinwhatyear?
2. What didthe Cassini spacecraftobserve?
3. What isthe purpose of the JamesWebbtelescope?
9. Ultravioletlight
 Watch Edpuzzle NASA UV rays
 Go to thisNASA site toanswerthese questions
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves
1. What are the 3 typesof UV classifications?
2. What colorsare the coolertemperaturesinspace?
3. Who discoveredUV lightandinwhatyear?
10. X-Rays
 Watch EDpuzzle NASA X-rays
 Go to thisNASA site toanswerthese questions
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/11_xrays
1. X-Raysare aboutthe size of what?
2. Who discoveredX-raysandwhen?
3. Our sun’scorona expelsmostlywhattype of rays?

3. Powell/Astronomy
4. The spiritNOVA useswhichX-Raystodetectwhaton Mars?
11. ɣ (gamma) radiation
 Watch EDpuzzle NASA X-rays
 Go to thisNASA site toanswerthese questions
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/12_gammarays
1. How are gamma rays producedonearth?
2. How are gamma rays detectedinspace?
3. What are some sourcesof gamma rays inspace?