Photometry (astronomy)

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/photometry-astronomy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the fundamental principle?Quantitative measurement of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation from celestial sources
2. What is the related scientific disciplines?Astrophysics, cosmology, stellar evolution, planetary science, and observational astronomy
3. What is photometry in astronomy?Photometry is the science of measuring how bright stars and other objects are by counting the light they send to us. It helps scientists learn about the size, temperature, and distance of those objects.
4. How do scientists measure the light from stars?They use special tools called photometers and modern devices called CCDs that record the light from stars. These instruments turn the light into numbers that show how bright the star is.

Flux: The rate of flow of energy per unit area, specifically referring to the intensity of light received.
Standard Candle: Celestial objects of known intrinsic luminosity used to measure cosmic distances.
Light Curve: A graph showing the change in brightness of an astronomical object over time.