1.1K views · 77 reactions | How do astronomers study cosmic objects and events that are so far away? One tool is spectroscopy, which breaks down light to help us determine composition, motion, and more. Watch this video to find out how a little bit of light can help us learn a whole lot about space. | NASA Universe | Facebook

Who needs a spaceship when you have the power of spectroscopy to learn about distant stars and planets? Spectroscopy is a way of analyzing light by splitting it into a rainbow of colors called a spectrum 🌈. Gaps in the spectrum help astronomers learn about the chemical elements an object is made of. The James Webb Space Telescope will use spectrographs, instruments used in spectroscopy, to study star formation and the chemical composition of young, distant galaxies, among many other targets. Sp