Grating Spectroscopes and How to Use Them

The perfect starting point for first-time spectroscope users, with no heavy mathematics and with information on how to buy and use an entry-level spectroscope.Describes how to buy and use an entry-level spectroscope and describesspecific details on the transmission filters for cameras and telescopes.Packed with practical tips on how to use simple commercial grating spectroscopes.Presents clear worked-through examples of how to analyze spectra from the stars and planetsGrating Spectroscopes and How to Use Them is written for amateur astronomers who are just getting into this field of astronomy. Transmission grating spectroscopes look like simple filters and are designed to screw into place on the eyepiece of a telescope for visual use, or into the camera adapter for digicam or CCD imaging. Using the most popular commercially made filter gratings – Rainbow Optics (US) and Star Analyzer (UK) – as examples, this book provides the reader with information on how to set up and use the grating one needs to obtain stellar spectrograms. It also discusses several methods on analyzing the results. This book is written in an easy to read style, perfect for getting started on the first night using the spectroscope, and specifically showing how the simple transmission filter is used on the camera or telescope. No heavy mathematics or formulas are involved, and there are many practical hints and tips – something that is almost essential to success when starting out. This book helps readers to achieve quick results, and by following the worked examples, they can successfully carry out basic analysis of the spectra.