red shift

red shift

 displacement of the spectrum of an astronomical object toward longer (red) wavelengths. It is generally attributed to the Doppler effect, a change in wavelength that results when a given source of waves (e.g., light or radio waves) and an observer are in rapid motion with respect to each other.

      The American astronomer Edwin Powell Hubble (Hubble, Edwin Powell) reported in 1929 that the distant galaxies were receding from the Milky Way system, in which the Earth is located, and that their red shifts increase proportionally with their increasing distance. This generalization became the basis for what is called Hubble's law, which correlates the recessional velocity of a galaxy with its distance from the Earth. That is to say, the greater the red shift manifested by light emanating from such an object, the greater the distance of the object and the larger its recessional velocity (see also Hubble's constant). This law of red shifts has been confirmed by subsequent research and provides the cornerstone of modern relativistic cosmological theories that postulate that the universe is expanding.

      Since the early 1960s astronomers have discovered cosmic objects known as quasars (quasar) that exhibit larger red shifts than any of the remotest galaxies previously observed. The extremely large red shifts of various quasars suggest that they are moving away from the Earth at tremendous velocities (i.e., approximately 90 percent the speed of light) and thereby constitute some of the most distant objects in the universe. See also quasar.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • red-shift — red shift, Astronomy. a shift of the light of stars, nebulae, and other luminous bodies toward the red end or longest wavelengths of the spectrum, indicating movement outward at increasing speed, and leading to the belief that the universe is… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Red Shift — est un super vilain cosmique créé par Marvel Comics. Il est apparu pour la première fois dans Galactus the Devourer, en 1999. Origine On ne sait rien du passé de cet alien, avant qu il ne devienne un des Hérauts de Galactus. Il a été l un de ses… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • red shift — ► NOUN Astronomy ▪ a displacement of the spectrum to longer wavelengths in the light from a distant galaxy or other object moving away from the observer …   English terms dictionary

  • red shift — /ˈrɛd ʃɪft / (say red shift) noun a shift of spectral lines toward the red end of the visible spectrum in the light emitted by a receding celestial body; thought to be a consequence of the Doppler effect. Compare blue shift …  

  • red shift — raudonasis poslinkis statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. red shift vok. Rotverschiebung, f rus. красное смещение, n pranc. décalage vers le rouge, m; déplacement vers le rouge, m …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • Red Shift (comics) — Superherobox| caption = Red Shift from Galactus: The Devourer #2 character name = Red Shift real name = unknown publisher = Marvel Comics debut = Galactus: The Devourer (1999) creators = Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Jon J. Muth alliances =… …   Wikipedia

  • Red Shift (publisher) — Infobox Defunct Company company name = Red Shift company fate = Main investor stopped supporting successor = Games Workshop foundation = 1983 defunct = 1985 location = Stoke Newington, London [Red Shift advertising from Personal Computer Games… …   Wikipedia

  • Red Shift (novel) — infobox Book | name = Red Shift title orig = translator = image caption = First edition cover, showing the folly tower on Mow Cop. author = Alan Garner cover artist = country = United Kingdom language = English series = genre = Fantasy Novel… …   Wikipedia

  • red shift — noun (astronomy) a shift in the spectra of very distant galaxies toward longer wavelengths (toward the red end of the spectrum); generally interpreted as evidence that the universe is expanding • Syn: ↑redshift • Topics: ↑astronomy, ↑uranology •… …   Useful english dictionary

  • red shift — noun Astronomy the displacement of the spectrum to longer wavelengths in the light from distant celestial objects moving away from the observer. Compare with blue shift …   English new terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”