Radio
ACCELERATED CHARGES — oscillating / spiraling electrons
planetary magnetospheres, pulsars, supernova remnants, interstellar plasma
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION — electrons in magnetic fields
astrophysical jets, galaxy clusters
Microwave
MOLECULAR ROTATIONS — bond rotations
molecules in atmosphere, interstellar medium
COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND — relic radiation
cooling early universe
Infra-red
MOLECULAR VIBRATIONS — bond stretching
molecules in atmosphere, interstellar medium
THERMAL RADIATION — blackbody emission
warm dust, planets, earth surface, sun
Visible
THERMAL RADIATION — blackbody emission
sun, hot stars, hot objects
ELECTRON ORBITAL TRANSITIONS — spectral lines
atoms in stars, nebulae
Ultraviolet
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION — electrons in magnetic fields
astrophysical jets, pulsars
BREMSSTRAHLUNG — fast electrons deflected by nuclei
solar corona, interstellar plasma
ELECTRON ORBITAL TRANSITIONS — high-energy lines
hot stars, nebulae
CHERENKOV RADIATION — light from superluminal-in-medium particles
earth’s atmosphere during cosmic-ray showers, water/ice
X-ray
BREMSSTRAHLUNG — electrons slowed by nuclei
solar corona, supernova remnants, galaxy clusters
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION — high-energy electrons spiraling
pulsars, black-hole jets
ELECTRON ORBITAL TRANSITIONS — inner-shell lines (e.g., k-α)
hot plasmas, accretion disks
Gamma ray
NUCLEAR TRANSITIONS — nucleons changing energy states
radioactive decay, supernovae
PARTICLE ANNIHILATION — e⁻ + e⁺ → photons
near black holes, cosmic rays in interstellar space
HAWKING RADIATION — quantum emission
black holes (theoretical)
