Amateur Spectroscopy
It is not hard to view spectra of astronomical objects. A simple, homemade DVD spectrograph can be used to view solar spectra. Note that looking at the Sun directly or by reflection can result in temporary or permanent loss of vision. Proper equipment must be used, and children should be supervised.
Recently, there has been a resurgence in amateur astronomical spectroscopy. It is possible to use a digital camera or telescope to easily view spectra of astronomical objects.
Inexpensive diffraction gratings like the Paton Hawksley Star Analyser or the Rainbow Optics Star Spectroscope can be used to split the starlight. Software like RSpec can be used to plot the curves.
An excellent introduction to amateur spectroscopy is Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs, published in 2011.
Also, Sky & Telescope Magazine has produced an excellent video interview that explains how to get started.
Read more about this topic: Astronomical Spectroscopy
Famous quotes containing the word amateur:
“I have been reporting club meetings for four years and I am tired of hearing reviews of the books I was brought up on. I am tired of amateur performances at occasions announced to be for purposes either of enjoyment or improvement. I am tired of suffering under the pretense of acquiring culture. I am tired of hearing the word “culture” used so wantonly. I am tired of essays that let no guilty author escape quotation.”
—Josephine Woodward, U.S. author. As quoted in Everyone Was Brave, ch. 3, by William L. O’Neill (1969)