Astronomers claim that objects throughout the universe are made of the same chemical elements that exist here on Earth. Given that most of these objects are so far away that we can never hope to visit them. Why are astronomers so confident that these objects are made from the same set of chemical elements, rather than some completely different types of materials?

Question

Astronomers claim that objects throughout the universe are made of the same chemical elements that exist here on Earth.  Given that most of these objects are so far away that we can never hope to visit them. Why are astronomers so confident that these objects are made from the same set of chemical elements, rather than some completely different types of materials?

anonymous · Answer

Astronomy today basically consist of counting photons, not only in the visible range but also in the infrared or the ultraviolet. Basically, what an astronomer does is use a set of filters and count the amount of lig…

anonymous · Answer

she is right Astronomy today basically consist of counting photons, not only in the visible range but also in the infrared or the ultraviolet. Basically, what an astronomer does is use a set of filters and count the amount of lig…

anonymous · Answer

every element and compound has a unique energy spectra, in other words measuring the energies of the photons coming from a single source can tell you the chemicals you are looking at

anonymous · Answer

THTS WHAT I SAID

anonymous · Answer

:)

anonymous · Answer

I hope that help

anonymous · Answer

:)

mrnood · Answer

Another analysis could be thus:

Each element that we know has a unique number of protons in its nucleus. (The atomic number of the element) They are arranged by this number in the periodic table, from Hydrogen with 1 proton upwards to over 100

In the early days, elements were discovered randomly and there were 'missing' elements in the table. However elements with every atomic number from 1 to over 100 have been identified on earth.

Elements with higher atomic numbers are very unstable, and some exist only for fractions of a second. 

Since the physical conditions of temperature pressure etc. are observed to ber similar in other astronomic bodies it can be argued that there is no scope for other elements to exist (because no 'gaps' are present in the periodic table)

However - the question DOES refer to "completely different types of materials". My discussion of course assumes all matter has the same 'atomic' structure.

^ just for discussion........^