What Is Redshift?
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13 July 2024
Redshift describes the color change of light from objects moving away from an observer
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It can be understood by comparing it to the Doppler effect experienced with sound waves
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As an ambulance approaches, sound waves compress, increasing frequency; moving away, waves stretch, decreasing frequency
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All waves, including light, change frequency as the distance between source and observer changes
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When light waves stretch, frequency drops, appearing redder, causing astronomers to call it redshift
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Conversely, compressed light waves have higher frequency, making the light appear bluer, known as blueshift
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Stars' colors relate to temperature and composition, indicated by their specific spectral lines
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Redshifted stars show spectral lines shifted towards red, much like a song sung off-key
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Redshift indicates that distant objects are moving away, suggesting the Universe is expanding
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The degree of redshift, measured as 'z,' helps determine the object's distance from Earth
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