{"id":1075,"date":"2023-12-28T22:39:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T22:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.gsfc.nasa.gov\/stella\/?p=1075"},"modified":"2025-07-05T02:54:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T02:54:51","slug":"spectroscopic-mystery-decoding-materials-with-the-stella-spectrometer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/science.gsfc.nasa.gov\/stella\/spectroscopic-mystery-decoding-materials-with-the-stella-spectrometer\/","title":{"rendered":"SPECTROSCOPIC MYSTERY: Decoding Materials with the STELLA Spectrometer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1075\" class=\"elementor elementor-1075\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51b0a22 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"51b0a22\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bedc6bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bedc6bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SPECTROSCOPIC MYSTERY: Decoding Materials with the STELLA Spectrometer\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-379a8ee e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"379a8ee\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca08ba2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ca08ba2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Objective:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4076cad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4076cad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The main objective of this classroom activity is to introduce students to the concept of spectroscopy and spectral signatures using the STELLA spectrometer. By engaging in a guessing game, students will learn to associate spectral patterns with different colored materials and understand the potential applications of spectroscopy, such as detecting plant health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa18902 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fa18902\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Materials:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f2595d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4f2595d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">STELLA spectrometer <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">STELLA Dataviewer software Large screen or projector for displaying spectral signatures Various colored materials (fabric, paper, plastic, etc.) <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Leafy green plant or large healthy leaf Decaying leaf (optional) <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Full spectrum light (if indoors) <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Podium or screen to hide materials during the guessing game<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f00c0f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f00c0f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Setup:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dce465d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dce465d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Arrange the various colored materials, healthy leaf, and optionally, a decaying leaf under the full spectrum light or natural sunlight.<\/p>\n<p>Turn on the STELLA before connecting.<\/p>\n<p>Connect the STELLA spectrometer to a computer with the <a href=\"\/stella-dataviewer\">STELLA Dataviewer <\/a>open. <br \/><br \/>**The Dataviewer only works on the Chrome browser**<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Set up a large screen or projector for displaying spectral signatures. Connect the computer to the large screen or projector.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6325a42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6325a42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Activity Steps Introduction (10 minutes):<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7cbf63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7cbf63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Briefly explain the basics of spectroscopy, emphasizing the idea that different materials have unique spectral signatures and that we obtain those spectral signatures by measuring them with an instrument called a spectrometer.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d6a03e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9d6a03e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Material Display and Recording (15 minutes):<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d77d237 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d77d237\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Display the various colored materials, healthy leaf, and optionally, the decaying leaf. Instruct students to record their observations of what they see and the colors of each material.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ca6b64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0ca6b64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Guessing Game (20 minutes):<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bfa59c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8bfa59c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHide the materials behind a podium or screen. Mix up their order and reveal only the spectral signatures on the large screen using the STELLA spectrometer. Encourage students to guess which spectral signature corresponds to each material based on their recorded observations.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4988213 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4988213\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Discussion (15 minutes):<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-472a0d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"472a0d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacilitate a class discussion about the guesses and the reasoning behind each choice. Explain the connection between the observed colors and the corresponding spectral signatures. Emphasize how spectroscopy can provide valuable information about the composition of materials.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a0c2ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5a0c2ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Advanced Thinking (20 minutes):<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61bde11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"61bde11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIntroduce the concept of using spectroscopy for plant health assessment. Display spectral signatures of the healthy leaf and the decaying leaf. Discuss how the Near Infrared reflectance can indicate plant health and density.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-857ca00 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"857ca00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion (10 minutes):<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b8d703 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b8d703\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSummarize the key points learned during the activity. Encourage students to reflect on the practical applications of spectroscopy, especially in fields like agriculture and environmental science. This activity promotes hands-on engagement, critical thinking, and an understanding of the practical applications of spectroscopy, particularly in assessing plant health using the Near Infrared portion of the spectrum, one application of many from the Landsat mission.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a57877 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a57877\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further Information, Videos and Visuals:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a80773 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a80773\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A pdf to learn how we use the EM spectrum in our daily lives and for science, containing visuals. https:\/\/smd-cms.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/tour-of-the-ems-tagged-v7-0.pdf<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reflected Near-Infrared Waves<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Contains valuable information, a video and visuals about near infrared and using it to detect plant health. https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/ems\/08_nearinfraredwaves\/<\/p>\n<p><strong>Seeing Photosynthesis from Space:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>NASA Scientists Use Satellites to Measure Plant Health Contains valuable information, a video and a visual about detecting plant health from space https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/earth-and-climate\/seeing-photosynthesis-from-space-nasa-scientists-use-satellites-to-measure-plant-health\/<\/p>\n<p><strong>More on STELLA:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>STELLA (Science and Technology Education for Land\/Life Assessment) project. STELLA instruments are portable low-cost do-it-yourself (DIY) instruments that support science education, and outreach through scientific engagement, inquiry, and discovery while helping you understand Landsat better.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Have any good ideas, suggestions or questions? Please post them on our open-source forum: <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/STELLA-Landsat\/STELLA\/discussions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/github.com\/STELLA-Landsat\/STELLA\/discussions<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduce students to the concept of spectroscopy and spectral signatures using the STELLA spectrometer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":912,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53,54,7,21,41,83,24,25,26,22,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activity","category-beginner","category-instruments","category-land","category-news","category-spectral","category-stella-1","category-stella-1-1","category-stella_1_2","category-stella-q","category-stella-q2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - 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