--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our knowledge of stars and interstellar…" description: "\"Our knowledge of stars and interstellar matter must be based primarily on the electromagnetic radiation which reaches us. Nature has thoughtfully provi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/lyman-spitzer-83066_absorption_our-knowledge-of-stars-and-interstellar_2844701.png" --- # Our knowledge of stars and interstellar matter must be… ![“Our knowledge of stars and interstellar matter must be based primarily on the electromagnetic radiation which reaches us. Nature has thoughtfully provided us with a universe in which radiant energy of almost all wave lengths travels in straight lines over enormous distances with usually rather…” quote by Lyman Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/lyman-spitzer-83066_absorption_our-knowledge-of-stars-and-interstellar_2844701.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/lyman-spitzer-83066_absorption_our-knowledge-of-stars-and-interstellar_2844701.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/lyman-spitzer-83066_absorption_our-knowledge-of-stars-and-interstellar_2844701.png) > “Our knowledge of stars and interstellar matter must be based primarily on the electromagnetic radiation which reaches us. Nature has thoughtfully provided us with a universe in which radiant energy of almost all wave lengths travels in straight lines over enormous distances with usually rather negligible absorption.” Lyman Spitzer ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Astronomical observations rely on electromagnetic waves that travel largely unimpeded across space. **In simple terms:** We study stars using light that reaches us. Key Takeaway Use multi‑wavelength data to understand the cosmos. Themes astronomy observation physics Mood curious inquisitive Type educational scientific When to use this quote - telescope design - space missions - data analysis - educational outreach Key Concepts electromagnetism signal propagation Questions to Reflect On - How do different wavelengths reveal distinct cosmic phenomena? - What technologies overcome observational limits? A Different Perspective Atmospheric and interstellar absorption can limit certain wavelengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Interstellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interstellar/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Straight line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straight-line/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“What would you do if I told you excessive masturbation can be a symptom of electromagnetic radiation exposure?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/what-would-you-do-if-i-told-you-excessive-masturbation-can-be-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Everything we know about the universe is studied by using telescopes or other instruments that look at visible light, infrared, ultraviolet or X-ray -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-barish/everything-we-know-about-the-universe-is-studied-by-using-telescopes/) [Barry Barish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-barish/) > [“The human has genetic adaptation to natural electromagnetic radiation. Increasing, reducing or removing the natural radiation exposures results in a sickened human that may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-human-has-genetic-adaptation-to-natural-electromagnetic-radiation/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The leading research in the adverse human health effects of electromagnetic radiation is not being done by well funded governments or corporations, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-leading-research-in-the-adverse-human-health-effects-of/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Some may wonder whether part of the harvest of this invisible pollution (electromagnetic radiation) may be the comparative rarity of visionary experience in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-redgrove/some-may-wonder-whether-part-of-the-harvest-of-this-invisible/) [Peter Redgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-redgrove/) > [For in 1900 all electromagnetic radiation of longer wavelengths was already known at least to the extent that one could not seek in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-von-laue/for-in-1900-all-electromagnetic-radiation-of-longer-wavelengths-was/) [Max von Laue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-von-laue/) > [“The human skin evolved in a natural electromagnetic radiation environment and is now in a very unnatural man-made one that is making many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-human-skin-evolved-in-a-natural-electromagnetic-radiation/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There is a dangerous willful ignorance in governments to the adverse health effects of the various forms of electromagnetic radiation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-a-dangerous-willful-ignorance-in-governments-to-the-adverse/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“It is unreasonable to expect all children to develop correctly in unnatural man-made electromagnetic radiation fields.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unreasonable-to-expect-all-children-to-develop-correctly-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-simple-truth-is-that-interstellar-distances-will-not-fit-into-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Time throws you out of its dimensionless planar like a boomerang. It unites with you again in death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwanath-s-j/time-throws-you-out-of-its-dimensionless-planar-like-a-boomerang-it/) Vishwanath S J > [“We, of all the beings that we know of, can think. We can eat, write, build, save. We can predict, estimate, and count. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarun-betala/we-of-all-the-beings-that-we-know-of-can-think-we-can-eat-write-build/) [Tarun Betala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarun-betala/) > [The Romans have provided a lot of writers with a model for various interstellar empires, of course, and no wonder. The Roman Empire is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-romans-have-provided-a-lot-of-writers-with-a-model-for-various/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“in an interstellar burst, i'm back to save the universe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radiohead/in-an-interstellar-burst-i-m-back-to-save-the-universe/) [radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radiohead/) > [The factor most ignored in discussing interstellar flight is the kinetic energy that must be invested in the ship to make its tons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-factor-most-ignored-in-discussing-interstellar-flight-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lyman Spitzer > [Astronomy may be revolutionized more than any other field of science by observations from above the atmosphere. Study of the planets, the Sun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-spitzer/astronomy-may-be-revolutionized-more-than-any-other-field-of-science/) Lyman Spitzer > [The chief contribution of such a radically new and more powerful instrument would be, not to supplement our present ideas of the universe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-spitzer/the-chief-contribution-of-such-a-radically-new-and-more-powerful/) Lyman Spitzer Explore all 3 Lyman Spitzer quotes ## More Absorption quotes > [In fact, studies show that vegans tend to get more iron than meat eaters. Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables increases iron absorption. Meanwhile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/in-fact-studies-show-that-vegans-tend-to-get-more-iron-than-meat/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [I am not the center of the universe. And it's a lesson that I keep having to learn; it's my ongoing work, I'd say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fabian/i-am-not-the-center-of-the-universe-and-it-s-a-lesson-that-i-keep/) [Patrick Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fabian/) > [The greatness of peoples springs from their ability to grasp the grand conceptions of being. It is the absorption of a people, of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-crummell/the-greatness-of-peoples-springs-from-their-ability-to-grasp-the/) [Alexander Crummell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-crummell/) > [Melancholy betrays the world for the sake of knowledge. But in its tenacious self-absorption it embraces dead objects in its contemplation, in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/melancholy-betrays-the-world-for-the-sake-of-knowledge-but-in-its/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [I was in a garden at the Rodin Museum. For a few minutes I was alone, sitting on a bench between two long hedges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/i-was-in-a-garden-at-the-rodin-museum-for-a-few-minutes-i-was-alone/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Those who work at a thing heart and soul not only achieve success in it but through their absorption in that they also realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/those-who-work-at-a-thing-heart-and-soul-not-only-achieve-success-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Self-absorption intensifies isolation, but permits it to go unnoticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/self-absorption-intensifies-isolation-but-permits-it-to-go-unnoticed/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Life is a state of constant radiation and absorption; to exist is to radiate; to exist is to be the recipient of radiations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-george-jordan/life-is-a-state-of-constant-radiation-and-absorption-to-exist-is-to/) [William George Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-george-jordan/) > [I had learned that science is a rewarding, active process of discovery, not the passive absorption of what others had discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-e-varmus/i-had-learned-that-science-is-a-rewarding-active-process-of-discovery/) [Harold E. Varmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-e-varmus/) > [Selfishness and self-absorption are deadly charm-exterminators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/selfishness-and-self-absorption-are-deadly-charm-exterminators/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [Prayer gives us relief from the melancholy burden of self-absorption .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/prayer-gives-us-relief-from-the-melancholy-burden-of-self-absorption/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ \[Pope Francis\]sees a world in need of the Gospel, and of friendship with Jesus Christ, as an antidote to the self-absorption and loneliness that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weigel/pope-francis-sees-a-world-in-need-of-the-gospel-and-of-friendship/) [George Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weigel/) > [The ecstasy and completion of absorption in God is so fantastic that you can't possibly have lost anything because all the things you've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-ecstasy-and-completion-of-absorption-in-god-is-so-fantastic-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [ \[T\]he mass-man sees in the State an anonymous power, and feeling himself, like it, anonymous, he believes that the State is something of his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/t-he-mass-man-sees-in-the-state-an-anonymous-power-and-feeling/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [“But the work had told upon the Editor. Work of that sort carries its penalties with it. Success means absorption, and absorption spells softening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/but-the-work-had-told-upon-the-editor-work-of-that-sort-carries-its/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) Browse all 118 Absorption quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our knowledge of stars and interstellar matter must be based primarily on the electromagnetic radiation which reaches us. 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