157k views
1 vote
What is an advantage of using radio, x-ray, or gamma-ray astronomy to study black holes?

a) Higher resolution images
b) Penetration through interstellar gas
c) Better sensitivity to faint sources
d) Lower atmospheric interference

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

One advantage of using radio, x-ray, or gamma-ray astronomy to study black holes is their ability to penetrate interstellar gas which allows astronomers to detect and study celestial objects and phenomena such as black holes that are not observable in visible light.

Step-by-step explanation:

Advantages of Using Radio, X-ray, or Gamma-ray Astronomy to Study Black Holes

An advantage of using radio, x-ray, or gamma-ray astronomy to study black holes is b) Penetration through interstellar gas. These forms of electromagnetic radiation can pierce through the densities of interstellar gas and dust, which may obstruct other types of radiation such as visible light. Since black holes cannot be observed directly because they emit no light, astronomers rely on the behavior of these impactful waves to deduce the presence and characteristics of black holes.

X-ray and gamma-ray Astronomy must be conducted from space because Earth's atmosphere blocks most radiation at wavelengths shorter than visible light. This means that to detect X-rays or gamma rays from astronomical sources, we need to place detectors above the atmosphere.

By comparison, in radio astronomy, while we can observe radio waves from the ground, we also often benefit from space-based observation due to lower atmospheric interference, enabling clearer signals. Furthermore, radio interferometry can improve resolution issues that arise due to the long wavelengths of radio waves.

User Matthew Winfield
by
8.7k points