Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Prologue A Tale of Two Scopes
- 1 Telescope and Observing Fundamentals
- 2 Refractors
- 3 Binoculars and Spotting Scopes
- 4 The Newtonian Telescope and Its Derivatives
- 5 The Cassegrain Telescope and Its Derivatives
- 6 Telescope Maintenance, Collimation and Star Testing
- 7 Telescope Accessories
- 8 Telescope Mounts
- 9 The Art of Visual Observing
- 10 Visual Observations of the Moon and Planets
- 11 Imaging the Moon and Planets
- 12 Observing and Imaging the Sun
- 13 Observing and Imaging with an Astro-Video Camera
- 14 DSLR Deep-Sky Imaging
- 15 Imaging with Cooled CCD Cameras
- 16 Auto-Guiding and Drift Scan Alignment
- 17 Spectral Studies
- 18 Improving and Enhancing Images in Photoshop
- Index
- Plate Section
17 - Spectral Studies
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2014
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Prologue A Tale of Two Scopes
- 1 Telescope and Observing Fundamentals
- 2 Refractors
- 3 Binoculars and Spotting Scopes
- 4 The Newtonian Telescope and Its Derivatives
- 5 The Cassegrain Telescope and Its Derivatives
- 6 Telescope Maintenance, Collimation and Star Testing
- 7 Telescope Accessories
- 8 Telescope Mounts
- 9 The Art of Visual Observing
- 10 Visual Observations of the Moon and Planets
- 11 Imaging the Moon and Planets
- 12 Observing and Imaging the Sun
- 13 Observing and Imaging with an Astro-Video Camera
- 14 DSLR Deep-Sky Imaging
- 15 Imaging with Cooled CCD Cameras
- 16 Auto-Guiding and Drift Scan Alignment
- 17 Spectral Studies
- 18 Improving and Enhancing Images in Photoshop
- Index
- Plate Section
Summary
The majority of amateur astronomers have probably not even considered making any spectroscopic observations, but it is an immensely rewarding part of the hobby; the cost of the required hardware (a diffraction grating) is no more than that of a reasonable eyepiece, whilst software is readily available to process one’s spectra. In the United States, Tom Field has produced an exceptionally user-friendly piece of software called ‘RSpec’, and his Web site includes a set of video tutorials to show one how to use it. It is possible to run a full specification trial version for 30 days. A freeware program, ‘Visual Spectrum’, is also available.
Almost any camera can be used to capture spectra, and the use of DSLRs, webcams and CCD cameras will be covered here. By simply screwing the grating into an eyepiece, one can even observe the spectra of some bright stars visually. I really do hope that this chapter encourages many more amateurs to have a try!
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- An Amateur's Guide to Observing and Imaging the Heavens , pp. 283 - 300Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2014