Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Ricky Lawson on 09/07/2010 16:30:02

Title: Can stars be red-shifted into the microwave region?
Post by: Ricky Lawson on 09/07/2010 16:30:02

Ricky Lawson  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Chris,
 
Just found the podcast (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) and love it. I have subscribed and also to the astronomy one. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/astronomy/show/2010.06.25/)
 
I understand that as an object moves away the light is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum, is it possible for an object to move fast enough so that the light is shifted enough that it can not be seen with the naked eye? If this is possible are there objects in the universe moving away from us at such a high speed we only detect them as Infrared or Microwaves? Could the cosmic background radiation be millions of star moving away from us at a great speed? Are objects further away moving at a greater speed?
 
I know this might be written a bit badly and my understanding of physics may be bad, but I would love to hear an answer.
 
Thank you for the shows and hopefully some answers.

Ricky Lawson

What do you think?

Title: Can stars be red-shifted into the microwave region?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 11/07/2010 23:19:54

Yes they can and the cosmic microwave background refers to the time when the whole universe was so hot that it shone like the surface of a single star.