How were scientists able to determine the composition of other planets despite never having been there themselves to find out for sure?
In: Planetary Science
One way is a spectrograph. It essentially breaks light down (like one of those glass pyramids). By checking what sorts of wavelengths are most commonly being reflected and absorbed by something you’re pointing at (as well as a bunch of other things, like temperature) you can work out what materials it is made from.
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