Hydrogen Line in Astronomy | UPSC

The hydrogen line is a crucial tool in astronomy for studying objects from distant stars to potential extraterrestrial intelligence.

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Hydrogen atoms emit a specific radio wave when a proton and electron within it flip their spins.

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This radio wave, with a wavelength of 21 centimeters, allows astronomers to detect clouds of hydrogen gas in space.

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By studying the hydrogen line emission, astronomers were able to map our Milky Way galaxy for the first time.

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The line's simplicity makes it a potential tool for sending messages across space for potential alien civilizations to detect.

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