Final answer:
The 2004 Spitzer Telescope detects infrared radiation, which can pass through nebulas and provide clearer images of celestial objects. The correct answer is b) Infrared radiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 2004 Spitzer Telescope is specialized in detecting infrared radiation, which allows it to observe and measure the heat emitted from astronomical objects, such as stars and nebulae. Infrared telescopes like Spitzer can penetrate cosmic dust better than telescopes that detect visible light, allowing astronomers to see deeper into regions of space that are otherwise obscured. Specifically, the Spitzer Telescope measures the infrared radiation that can pass through nebulae, revealing astrophysical phenomena hidden from optical telescopes.
The correct answer to the student's question is b) Infrared radiation. By observing in the infrared, astronomers leverage the ability of infrared waves to travel through interstellar dust, which provides clearer images of celestial objects obscured by these dust clouds.