High School What Secrets Does the Color of Space Hold and How Does Space Travel Work?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the nature of space, specifically why it appears black and the composition of materials found in space. It is established that space is predominantly black due to the lack of visible light, with hydrogen making up approximately 74% of the material in space, followed by helium at nearly 24%. The cosmic microwave background radiation is the remnant light from the early universe, now redshifted beyond visibility. Current technology does not allow for the extraction of metals from space, as the interstellar medium is too sparse for mining operations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic wave wavelengths
  • Basic knowledge of cosmic microwave background radiation
  • Familiarity with the concept of redshift in astronomy
  • Awareness of rocket propulsion and fuel types used in space
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of cosmic microwave background radiation
  • Learn about the process of redshift and its implications in cosmology
  • Explore different types of rocket fuels and their applications in space travel
  • Investigate the composition of the interstellar medium and its potential for resource extraction
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, aerospace engineers, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of space and the materials it contains.

nivamani Rajbongshi
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When we see with open eyes or in visible range of wavelength of e.m. wave we see black space containing some star...but if we see the space in other range of wavelength of the e.m. wave what will we see?? Also why the space is black?? Which matel we find in space mostly? Can we extract those matel to use?
 
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nivamani Rajbongshi said:
Also why the space is black?? Which matel we find in space mostly? Can we extract those matel to use?
The space between the stars is black because (on average) the first non-transparent stuff in the way of our line of sight is the primordial incandescent plasma that existed in the epoch of recombination before the universe became transparent to light. That was a long time ago. Due to the expansion of the universe, the light from that plasma has red shifted so much that it is now invisible. Instead, that "light" is now observed as the cosmic microwave background radiation.

It is much more convenient to find metal in mines rather than in hard vacuum.
 
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nivamani Rajbongshi said:
but if we see the space in other range of wavelength of the e.m. wave what will we see??

Mostly blackness until you get down into the microwave wavelengths. Once there you will see the cosmic microwave background radiation.

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
Also why the space is black??

Because you're mostly seeing empty space with no visible light coming from it. Hence, blackness.

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
Which matel we find in space mostly?

Hydrogen is overwhelmingly the dominant material in space, coming in at nearly 74% of the material in space by mass. This is followed by helium at almost 24% the amount by mass. The remaining 2% amount is where you find all the other elements.

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
Can we extract those matel to use?

Not yet. The interplanetary and interstellar medium is too sparse, and we don't yet have the ability to mine asteroids or other planets.
 
jbriggs444 said:
The space between the stars is black because (on average) the first non-transparent stuff in the way of our line of sight is the primordial incandescent plasma that existed in the epoch of recombination before the universe became transparent to light. That was a long time ago. Due to the expansion of the universe, the light from that plasma has red shifted so much that it is now invisible. Instead, that "light" is now observed as the cosmic microwave background radiation.

It is much more convenient to find metal in mines rather than in hard vacuum.
Why we assume that the light didn't reach to us so we see the space black mostly...also u r telling about some plasma, what is it?? Also u said universe is expanding then why we see the same star from a specific region in the sky?
 
A hydrogen balloon alway move upward. But at which layer of atmosphere it release from the balloon? Also what feul we use in the space(i mean outside earth), i mean to change the direction of the satellite or any space craft. We usually see a gas is used to move them, what gas is it? We consider time as the 4th dimension but when we speak about space time what is the dimension of the space??
 
nivamani Rajbongshi said:
Why we assume that the light didn't reach to us so we see the space black mostly

The only reason something looks black is because it emits or reflects little light, or if something blocks the light. So space is black because either little light is being emitted from most of space, or because there's something blocking the light from reaching us. But we can look out into space and see for billions of light years, so the light can't simply be blocked by something, otherwise we wouldn't be able to see distant regions of the universe. That must mean that there just isn't anything out there emitting or reflecting much light, and the latter is ruled out because, like I said, we can see for billions of light years without our view being obstructed or the light be significantly scattered by reflecting objects. That just leaves the idea that space is mostly empty.

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
also u r telling about some plasma, what is it??

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics)

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
Also u said universe is expanding then why we see the same star from a specific region in the sky?

Every single star you can see is located within our own galaxy, and galaxies do not expand. Instead, it is the distant between galaxies or galaxy clusters that are increasing over time. This is the expansion of the universe. Also note that space is enormous. Even though galaxies are moving at hundreds of thousands of kilometers per hour or faster you can't see a difference in their positions over timeframes of anything less than thousands or millions of years. Space is simply that vast.

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
A hydrogen balloon alway move upward. But at which layer of atmosphere it release from the balloon?

I'm sorry but I don't know what you're asking.

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
Also what feul we use in the space(i mean outside earth), i mean to change the direction of the satellite or any space craft. We usually see a gas is used to move them, what gas is it?

There are dozens of rocket fuels and oxidizers that have been used, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Here's a list of liquid propellants that have been used: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_rocket_propellant#Table

nivamani Rajbongshi said:
We consider time as the 4th dimension but when we speak about space time what is the dimension of the space??

Three of the dimensions are spatial dimensions and the final dimension is time. It doesn't matter how you number them. Space is called the 4th dimension simply because the three spatial dimension were labeled first in history.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoM-z14 Any photon with energy above 24.6 eV is going to ionize any atom. K, L X-rays would certainly ionize atoms. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whats-the-most-distant-galaxy/ The James Webb Space Telescope has found the most distant galaxy ever seen, at the dawn of the cosmos. Again. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/webb-mom-z14 A Cosmic Miracle: A Remarkably Luminous Galaxy at zspec = 14.44 Confirmed with JWST...

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