Star light red shift

 

Redshift in astronomy

Redshift is a term used in astronomy to describe the shift towards longer (redder) wavelengths of light emitted by distant celestial objects. This phenomenon is caused by the Doppler effect, which is the change in frequency or wavelength of waves (including light) due to the relative motion between the source and the observer.

When an object, such as a star or a galaxy, is moving away from us, the light it emits is stretched to longer wavelengths, causing it to appear redder. This is known as a redshift. The amount of redshift is proportional to the object's distance from us, so objects that are farther away appear to have a greater redshift.

Redshift is a crucial tool for astronomers because it allows them to estimate the distance and speed of objects in the universe. By measuring the amount of redshift in an object's light, astronomers can calculate its velocity and use this information to study the structure and evolution of the universe.