<p>The lines show as either peaks above the black body emission (for emission lines) or troughs below the black body emission (for absorption lines). Though stars more often have absorption lines and nebulae emission.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JdLke.gif" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JdLke.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a> 
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CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-25T10:42:43.057Z
2016-06-25T10:42:43.057Z
James Screech
<p>As a black body a star emits a continuous spectrum of light and other radiation. I've learned they are capable of knowing of what elements the stars are made of because of the spectral lines. But how do they distinguish those lines from other radiations?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-25T10:16:56.227Z
The spectral lines are peaks in the spectral intensity distribution.
aventurin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-25T11:43:49.553Z
Star do *not* have a blackbody spectrum. Have you looked at one?
ProfRob
<star><spectroscopy>
How do astronomers distinguish the spectral lines?
Marijn 
# How do astronomers distinguish the spectral lines?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-25)

As a black body a star emits a continuous spectrum of light and other radiation. I've learned they are capable of knowing of what elements the stars are made of because of the spectral lines. But how do they distinguish those lines from other radiations?

**Tags:** star, spectroscopy

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The spectral lines are peaks in the spectral intensity distribution.  
> **username_2**: Star do *not* have a blackbody spectrum. Have you looked at one?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-06-25. Score: 5

The lines show as either peaks above the black body emission (for emission lines) or troughs below the black body emission (for absorption lines). Though stars more often have absorption lines and nebulae emission.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/JdLke.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/JdLke.gif)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/DTJKx.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/DTJKx.gif)


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