"Interstellar dust removes flux by absorbing photons and scattering them out of the observer’s line of sight, a process known as \"extinction\". The amount of extinction depends on wavelength: dust affects shorter (bluer) wavelengths more strongly than longer (redder) ones, leading to a \"reddening\" of the light. The wavelength dependence is described by an extinction curve, from which the size distribution and composition of interstellar dust grains can be inferred. Such curves are used to correct observations for dust effects. Without these corrections, the derived properties of celestial objects, such as intrinsic luminosity and color, will be inaccurate.\n",
0 commit comments