How can spectra tell us what things are made of?

Stars and planets are too far away for a human to touch, yet we know what they are made of. Spectra make this possible! Let’s investigate how.

What Counts as a Match?

Slideshow. This slideshow can be reviewed as a class discussion, in small groups, or on your own, as instructed by your teacher.

  1. See examples and learn some tips for deciding whether a sample spectrum contains a good match for a reference element.
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