Are Stars Absorbing and Re-Emitting Radiation from Space?

In summary, a star is a luminous celestial body that emits light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. Blackbody radiation is the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a perfect blackbody, and stars emit this radiation due to their high core temperatures. Studying the blackbody radiation of stars can provide information about their surface temperatures, composition, and evolutionary stage, and it is also used in astronomy to determine the temperature and composition of stars and to study interstellar dust and gas. Additionally, blackbody radiation is used to study the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is the residual energy from the Big Bang.
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nmsurobert
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Ive been reading about it for a while and I'm still confused.

i understand that a star is not a perfect blackbody. but do stars absorb radiation from space and then re-emit that energy into space?
 
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  • #2
Stars can absorb radiation from space. By far the dominant emission is from interal generation. Any absorbed radiation is mixed in. There is no way to distinguish the emission of absorbed radiation from that internally produced.
 
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What is a star?

A star is a luminous celestial body that is made up of hot gases and emits light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

What is blackbody radiation?

Blackbody radiation refers to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a perfect blackbody, which is an object that absorbs all radiation incident upon it.

How do stars emit blackbody radiation?

Stars emit blackbody radiation because their core temperatures are high enough to cause the atoms and molecules within them to vibrate and emit electromagnetic radiation in the form of photons.

What can we learn from studying blackbody radiation of stars?

Studying the blackbody radiation of stars can provide us with information about their surface temperatures, composition, and evolutionary stage. It can also help us understand the physical processes that occur within stars.

How is blackbody radiation used in astronomy?

Blackbody radiation is used in astronomy to determine the temperature and composition of stars, as well as to study the properties of interstellar dust and gas. It is also used to study the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is the residual energy from the Big Bang.

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