What does "Spectroscopic Confirmation" mean?

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Spectroscopic confirmation is a method used by scientists to verify the characteristics of astronomical objects, like galaxies or active galactic nuclei (AGN). This process involves analyzing the light coming from these objects to identify specific features, such as emission lines. These lines can tell us about the object's composition, distance, and other important details.

In the study of galaxies, researchers often look for Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). By taking deep images of the sky, they can find candidates that might be LBGs. However, to be certain, they need to perform spectroscopic confirmation. This means they observe these candidates with powerful instruments that allow them to measure the light's features more closely.

For AGNs, scientists focus on changes in light over time, known as variability. If an AGN changes its appearance, like starting or stopping the emission of certain light, researchers need to confirm this change through spectroscopy as well. By analyzing the light patterns and features from these AGNs, they can classify them accurately.

Overall, spectroscopic confirmation is a crucial step that helps scientists make sure their observations of galaxies and AGNs are correct, leading to better understanding of the universe.