How is your toaster like a cool star?
They both look red and glow because they are hot, dense objects, but they emit most of their light at infrared wavelengths.
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Image credits
Toaster: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toaster_Filaments.JPG
DSS image of Betelgeuse: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso0927e/
#astronomy #Astro101 #stars
Why red?
The red line on this plot shows the amount of light emitted per area vs. wavelength, for an object that is 3000 K (the surface temperature of a cool star). Although it emits mostly infrared light, it still emits some visible light. It emits more red light than blue, so it appears red to our eyes.
Play around with the simulation here:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/blackbody-spectrum/latest/blackbody-spectrum_all.html
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Kelly Lepo
Dr Ashley J Ruiter (she/her)