Visible light is just one portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which encompasses a wide range of electromagnetic radiation. The main differences between visible light and other types of electromagnetic radiation produced by stars lie in their wavelengths, frequencies, and energies.
Visible light refers to the specific range of wavelengths that are visible to the human eye, typically spanning from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers. This range covers the colors of the rainbow, from violet to red. Humans have evolved to detect and perceive this range of wavelengths, which allows us to see objects and perceive their colors.
On the other hand, stars produce various forms of electromagnetic radiation across the entire spectrum. This includes, but is not limited to, radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. These different forms of radiation differ in their wavelengths, frequencies, and energies.
Radio waves have the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies among the types of electromagnetic radiation. They are typically produced by cooler objects, such as stars with lower surface temperatures. Microwaves have shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than radio waves. Infrared radiation has even shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than microwaves and is often associated with the heat emitted by stars and other objects.
Moving further along the spectrum, ultraviolet (UV) radiation has shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than visible light. It can be emitted by hotter stars and is responsible for causing sunburns on Earth. X-rays have even shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than UV radiation, and they are produced in high-energy processes such as stellar explosions and accretion onto black holes.
At the highest end of the electromagnetic spectrum, there are gamma rays. Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies, carrying extremely high amounts of energy. They are produced by the most energetic processes in the universe, such as supernova explosions and gamma-ray bursts.
In summary, while visible light represents the range of wavelengths our eyes can detect, stars produce a broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that includes other wavelengths and energies, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. Each type of radiation corresponds to different physical processes and can provide unique insights into the nature and behavior of stars and other celestial objects.