Question

an astronomer discovers a new star and wants to measure its temperature. she would typically do this by measuring how much light the star reflects. sending a graduate student with a very long (and durable) thermometer to the stars vicinity. measuring the intensity of radio waves the star gives off. making a blackbody curve and finding the wavelength of the peak (maximum). measuring the doppler shift of its spectral lines.

Explanation:

Stars can be approximated as black - body radiators. According to Wien's displacement law, the temperature of a black - body is related to the wavelength of the peak of its emission spectrum. By creating a blackbody curve and finding the wavelength of the peak, the temperature of the star can be determined. Measuring the light a star reflects is not relevant as stars emit light, not reflect it. Sending a thermometer to a star is not feasible due to the vast distances and extreme conditions. Measuring radio - wave intensity is not the typical way to measure a star's temperature. The Doppler shift measures the motion of the star, not its temperature.

Answer:

making a blackbody curve and finding the wavelength of the peak (maximum)