The full electromagnetic spectrum includes both shorter and longer wavelengths. Familiar ways of using invisible light with wavelengths greater than or less than the eye can see include medical x-rays and airplane radar. That knowledge would not be possible if we had only our eyes. How spectrometers work. Each atom has a unique fingerprint because each can only emit or absorb certain wavelengths of energy.
Spectrometers are the instruments that engineers build to detect the fingerprints.
Spectrometers in use. A current example of spectrometers in use can be found in the 2001 Odyssey spacecraft that NASA sent to Mars. Online E-Mail .