Amateur Spectroscopy

<body background="oldpaper.jpg" bgcolor="#FFFFBF" text="#000000" link="#000000" vlink="#000000" alink="#000000"> <center><img src="welcome2.jpg" width="626" height="76" align="middle" alt="Amateur Spectroscopy"></center> <center><img src="brass.jpg" width="748" height="1" align="middle" alt=""></center> <FONT color=#000000 size=3><br> <br> <p><FONT size=5>A</FONT>mateur spectroscopy has been of special interest since being introduced to astrophysics and the science of light many years ago. Spectroscopy by definition is the decomposition of electromagnetic radiation (Visible light in this case) into the frequency domain. Each chemical element emits or absorbs radiation at defined frequencies hence the light source may then be analyzed for it's chemical makeup.With the advent of inexpensive CCD technology such as the Cookbook series of imagers and more recently webcams the amateur now has multiple options for the recording of astronomical spectra. Add to this some surplus optics; a prism or grating and the amateur can not only explore this fascinating branch of astronomy but also contribute as well to the professional community.</p> <img align=left src="spectro3.jpg" width = "251" height="319" alt="spectrograph"> <p>Supernova searches, general ongoing sky surveys and Be star hydrogen emission line measurements are being conducted by amateur spectroscopists. Redshift analysis of stellar objects is as well being conducted by several talented amateur's.</p> <P>This Amateur Spectroscopy site documents the tools and results obtained using both objective prism and grating based instrumentation. Both stellar spectra obtained by prisms and detailed solar spectrum studies demonstrate the variety of subjects obtainable without the necessity of expensive spectrographs, optical instrumentation and software. <div style="float: right; width: 100px; height: 2em; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 2px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Georgia; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; color: darkslategray; text-align: right;"> <span style="color: silver;">...will go</span> a long way <b>introducing</b> spectroscopy as a rewarding <span style="color: grey;">endeavor...</span> </div> Some general metal working skills along with the means and willingness to perform some electronic camera surgery and acquiring a degree of proficiency with one of the many image processing packages available will go a long way introducing spectroscopy as a rewarding endeavor. Wavelength calibration and spectral comparison plots can be accomplished using the freeware application <a href="http://www.astrosurf.com/vdesnoux/">Visual Spec.</a> The application is quite capable of calibrating both non-linear prism spectra as well as the mostly linear dispersion produced by a transmission or reflective type grating.</p> <p>I've compiled a list of articles that have appeared in popular astronomy and scientific periodicals over the last 50 years or so, which cover various aspects of both amateur and professional stellar spectroscopy. The articles range from simple visual-based prism spectroscopes to more elaborate instruments employed by universities and professional institutions. Several articles delve into quite well written descriptions of spectral classification and historical perspectives on spectroscopy in general. A few articles do not necessarily relate specifically to spectroscopy but are informative.</p> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=50 ALT=""> <center><img src="sig2.jpg" width="200" height="20" align="middle" alt="Randy Lauderbaugh"></center><br><br><br> <center><img src="brass.jpg" width="748" height="2" align="middle" alt=""></center><br> <center> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=110 ALT=""> <FONT size=5>T</FONT>o begin exploring this site I might recommend starting with these pages for some examples of<br> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=123 ALT="">both solar and stellar spectra obtainable with rather simple equipment described on these pages : </center><br> <center> <img src="ch.jpg" ALIGN=middle HEIGHT=19 WIDTH=19 ALT=""> Examples of objective prism stellar spectra <a href="spectra1.htm"> may be found here</a></center> <center> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=19 ALT=""> <img src="ch.jpg" ALIGN=middle HEIGHT=19 WIDTH=19 ALT=""> Examples of grating spectrograph solar spectra <a href="gspec2.htm"> may be found here</a> </center><br> <center> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=88 ALT=""> <FONT size=5>A</FONT>lso find below a list of spectroscopy related magazine articles as well as books that I've<br> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=100 ALT=""> found quite useful may be accessed on the following pages: </center><br> <center> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=33 ALT=""> <img src="ch.jpg" ALIGN=middle HEIGHT=19 WIDTH=19 ALT=""> A three page periodical publication article list <a href="res1.htm"> may be accessed here</a></center> <center> <img src="spacer.jpg" ALIGN=left HEIGHT=1 WIDTH=7 ALT=""> <img src="ch.jpg" ALIGN=middle HEIGHT=19 WIDTH=19 ALT=""> A short selection of spectroscopy related books is <a href="text.htm">located here</a></center> <br><br><br> <center> <u><b>Amateur Spectroscopy Primary Page Links</b></u> <br><br> <a href="news.htm">Recent News and Notes</a><br> <a href="profiles1.htm">Stellar profiles</a><br> <a href="gspec.htm">A grating spectrograph for amateur spectroscopy</a><br> <a href="gspec1.htm">A grating spectrograph for amateur spectroscopy - pedestal mounting</a><br> <a href="gspec2.htm">A grating spectrograph for amateur spectroscopy part II</a><br> <a href="gspec3.htm">A grating spectrograph for amateur spectroscopy part III</a><br> <a href="gspec4.htm">A grating spectrograph for amateur spectroscopy part IV</a><br> <a href="gspec5.htm">A grating spectrograph for amateur spectroscopy part V</a><br> <a href="res1.htm">Amateur spectroscopy periodical resources list</a><br> <a href="res2.htm">Amateur spectroscopy periodical resources list II</a><br> <a href="res3.htm">Amateur spectroscopy periodical resources list III</a><br> <a href="text.htm">Text resources</a><br> <a href="brightstar.htm">Brightstar catalog</a><br> <a href="starclass.htm">Stellar classes</a><br> <a href="equipment.htm">Cookbook211 equipment</a><br> <a href="equipment2.htm">Cookbook211 equipment II</a><br> <a href="projects.htm">Objective Prism spectra</a><br> <a href="slines.htm">Solar spectrum - Table of Absorption line identification</a><br> <a href="cb211spectra.htm">Solar Spectra with a slit Spectrograph</a><br> <a href="cb211spectra2.htm">Solar Spectra with a slit Spectrograph part II</a><br> <a href="cb211spectra3.htm">Solar Spectra with a slit Spectrograph part III</a><br> <a href="lamp.htm">Neon calibration lamp spectra and profile plots</a><br> <a href="spectra1.htm">Stellar spectra</a><br> <a href="links.htm">Amateur spectroscopy and science links</a><br> <a href="author.htm">About the Author</a><br> <a href="awards.htm">Amateur spectroscopy site awards</a><br> <a href="awards2.htm">Amateur spectroscopy site awards II</a><br> <a href="awards3.htm">Amateur spectroscopy site awards III</a><br> <a href="electron.htm">Electronics projects</a><br> <a href="ledscope.htm">LED oscilloscope project</a><br> <a href="gbook.htm">Amateur Spectroscopy Guestbook</a><br> <a href="copyright.htm">Amateur Spectroscopy copyright conditions</a><br> <a href="mail.htm">Amateur Spectroscopy Contact Info</a><br> <a href="privacy.htm">Privacy Policy Statement</a><br> <a href="sitemap.htm">Amateur Spectroscopy sitemap</a><br><br> <br><br><br> <center><img src="brass.jpg" width="748" height="2" align="middle" alt=""></center><br> <center>This Amateur spectroscopy website is optimized for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels</center> <br> <center> <table width=60% border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding=""> <tr> <td align="center"> <a href="http://www.safesurf.com/" target="new"><IMG BORDER=0 src="ssurf.gif" width ="108" height="34" alt="Safesurf"></a></td></tr></table></center><br><center> <table width=60% border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding=""> <tr> <td align="center"> <a href="http://www.familyfriendlysites.com/FamilyFriendly/default.asp?nID=40880" target="new"> <IMG SRC= "http://emblems.familyfriendlysites.com/familyfriendly240x40.gif" border=0 ></a></td></tr> </table></center><br> <center>Amateur Spectroscopy</center> <center>Copyright© 1996-2009 by Randy Lauderbaugh</center> <center>Established 2000</center> </body>