A Spectrum of the Sun Shows Many Dark Features because of Various Chemical Elements in Sunlight (IMAGE)

University of Sydney

A Spectrum of the Sun Shows Many Dark Features because of Various Chemical Elements in Sunlight

Caption

HERMES, the new spectrograph built at the AAO, uses volume phase holographic (VPH) gratings to provide various optimized spectra in blue, green and red light and a fourth band in infra-red light. HERMES spectra allows astronomers to study the chemical makeup of stars to understand their formation and evolution. A spectrum of the Sun shows many dark features because of various chemical elements in sunlight.

Credit

N.A. Sharp, NOAO/NSO/Kitt Peak FTS/AURA/NSF.

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