Astronomy - the science that studies the celestial bodies, their movement, structure, and systems formed by them.It is the oldest area of knowledge: astronomy origins are lost in the mists of time.We can say that it has evolved along with humanity.Today, astronomy stands still.Using the latest technology, scientists are constantly refine and complement the already existing theory.The biggest discoveries of recent years have often been associated with those phenomena that are studying astrophysics.At full capacity using advances in technology, astronomers are faced with inevitable limitations of the human mind.Astrophysics - branch of astronomy, perhaps most often confronted with the fact that while it is impossible to explain.Scientists working under its banner, trying to find answers to increasingly complex questions, thus promoting technical progress.The fact that the study of astrophysics that they've managed to learn some secrets of the universe, and it offers today, and will be discussed below.
Features
Astrophysics deals with the definition of the physical characteristics of space objects and their interactions.In their theories, it is based on knowledge of the laws of nature, accumulated by science in the study of the properties of matter on Earth.
astrophysicists are faced with significant limitations in their work.Unlike colleagues studying a microcosm or macro-objects in terms of the Earth, they can not carry out experiments.Many of the forces acting in space, reveal themselves only at a great distance or in the presence of huge mass and volume of objects.In the laboratory, this interaction has not been studied, since it is impossible to create the necessary conditions.General astrophysics basically deals with the results of passive surveillance.
In such circumstances, it is difficult to imagine receiving data about objects.Direct measurement of relevant parameters in view of the impossibility of experiments in this section of astronomy does not exist.In this case, that the study of astrophysics and what to base their conclusions?The main source of information for scientists in similar circumstances - the analysis of electromagnetic waves that radiate celestial bodies.
it all began
Astronomy - the science that studies the celestial bodies since time immemorial, but this section as astrophysics, it was not always.In fact, it started its formation in 1859, when G. Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen at the end of a series of experiments established that any chemical element has a unique line spectrum.This meant that from the spectrum of a celestial body can be judged on its chemical composition.Thus was born the spectral analysis, and with it came and Astrophysics.
Relevance
In 1868, the newly created method made possible the discovery of new chemical elements - helium.It was opened during the total solar eclipse observation and study of the luminaries of the chromosphere.
modern astrophysics is also largely based on data from the spectral analysis.The advanced technology allows to get information about almost all the characteristics of celestial bodies, as well as interstellar space: temperature, composition, behavior of atoms, the magnetic fields, and so on.
invisible radiation
significantly enhance the ability of Astrophysics the discovery of radio waves.Registration will allow him to study the cold gas that fills interstellar space and emits invisible to the eyes of the world, as well as processes in distant pulsars and neutron stars.Of great importance for the whole of astronomy was the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, which has become a confirmation to emerge in this time of the big bang theory.
Space Age astrophysicists presented new opportunities.Became available ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, the path to which is blocked by the Earth atmosphere.Telescopes, by taking into account new discoveries have revealed the hot gas in clusters of galaxies, X-ray radiation of neutron stars, some of the characteristics of black holes.
Astrophysics
Modern science has made great progress compared to the state in which she was in the late 19th century.Today astrophysics enjoy all the latest developments in the field of registration of electromagnetic radiation and reception on their basis of data on remote sites.However, we can not say that this branch of astronomy absolutely smoothly moving towards the study of the universe.Terms developing in deep space, sometimes so difficult to register and understand that the interpretation of the data on those or other objects is difficult.
In the vicinity of the black hole, the depths of neutron stars and their magnetic fields can be shown new physical properties of matter.The inability to reproduce even some extreme or marginal conditions in which there are similar cosmic processes, forms the key challenges in astrophysics.
Model Universe
One of the major problems of modern astronomy - understand the development of vast space.Today, there are two main versions: open and closed universe.The first involves the constant and unlimited expansion.In this model, the distance between the galaxies is increasing, and after some time the space becomes a lifeless desert with occasional islands of solid matter.Another option would be that instead of expanding, which for most is an indisputable fact, come the compression phase of the universe.The unequivocal answer to the question of which theory is true, yet.Moreover, there are discoveries that considerably complicates the understanding of the future of the universe and making some chaos in a seemingly coherent picture.These include, for example, the detection of dark matter and energy.
black holes, gamma-ray bursts
Among all that studying astrophysics, there are a number of objects, with a special touch of mystery.They also relate to the main issues of this section of astronomy.These include black holes, many physical processes in space which have not been studied, and gamma-ray bursts.The latter are the release of huge amounts of energy, the pulses of gamma radiation.Their nature is also not entirely clear.
Understanding these objects and phenomena can significantly change our understanding of the structure of the universe and the laws of the cosmos.This constant contact with the mysteries of the universe and makes astrophysics front edge of science, at the same time highlights the limitations of current knowledge and stimulating their further development.We can say that this branch of astronomy became a kind of marker of progress: every discovery marks a victory of the human mind on another mystery.
