Spectroscopy getting started

[Trikeflyer]

@nicoscy  posted about the skywatcher 72ed and he mentioned spectroscopy and it peeked my interest.  I know nothing about how to do it apart from a brief web search after reading his post. Now II'm looking for a bit of advice about what kit I need to get into it. I fancy having a go but I'm wondering how easy it is for a complete beginner to get reasonable results.  I have an Altair Astro 80mm ed with star discovery alt az goto mount and a Meade etx 125 which I could use on the star discovery mount too.  I have no camera and have no Astro photography experience. What else will I need to get started? Anyone else do spectroscopy, feel free to comment, all advice gladly accepted! 

Steve 

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi. First item you will need is one of these ---> http://www.patonhawksley.co.uk/staranalyser.html - I have the SA100, which is recommended for beginners. I too have no astrophotography experience. It does work in my ETX105, (I just tried it visually). I have an adaptor ring so that I can use it with a DSLR camera & lens too. 

[Merlin66]

Check out the various websites for more info.

The SA 100 (or SA200) provides a good starting point with almost any telescope. A camera is recommended and obviously some processing software.

http://www.astronomicalspectroscopy.com/

http://www.threehillsobservatory.co.uk/astro/spectroscopy.htm

http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/index.html

https://www.rspec-astro.com/

[skfboiler]

A short while ago I was interested in spectroscopy. I read a couple of books but never went any further. I did come across a book by Ken M. Harrison called "Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs". Bought it from Amazon.com. I thought it was a very good read. He has a other books on the subject as well. Ken Harrison also has Yahoo user group on spectroscopy that seems to be very active. Perhaps a good resource if you join the group.

Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs
https://www.amazon.com/Astronomical-...y+for+amateurs

Spectroscopy Yahoo User group
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/...ctroscopy/info

[ejp1684]

Another of Ken's books is "Grating Spectroscopes and How to Use Them". I found this book very helpful as although it deals with gratings in general, it has a lot of information on using the Star Analyser 100 (and 200) which in my opinion is the best way to begin spectroscopy. The Star Analyser is much easier to use than a slit spectroscope, and is much cheaper.

Eric.

[Kn4fty]

I have the Patrick Moore book about this. It includes directions for 3 different home builds. I haven't tried spectroscopy yet, but will be doing it soon. Thanks for posting this. It reminded me that I need to pull this off the back burner and do it.

[skfboiler]

I finally got around to reading the August issue of Sky and Telescope magazine. Just happens to be an article on our topic, spectroscopy. If you can get a copy of this article, it will be another resource to learn and get in to it.

[Kn4fty]

You're right! I forgot about it! Riddle of the Nebula. Thanks for the reminder skfboiler!

[Stub Mandrel]

Can anyone suggest a link to a page that explains how to design a grating spectrometer. I have a basic 1,000 line per mm grating which works well in 'cereal box' design (actually using a 3D printing filament box) and a slit made from a broken razor blade. I would like to make a better version with a collimating lens and a focusing lens to use with my mono camera. In principle this should be easy to do (I have two small 100mm focal length coated achro lenses idea for it) but all I can find online are a few sketches with no guidance/formulas for how the optics should be arranged for best results. DIY spectrometer ideas on line are totally overwhelmed by bits of CD!

[Merlin66]

Buil's page is a good starting point.

http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/spectrographs.html

then there's the TRAGOS...

http://www.burwitz-astro.de/spectrographs/tragos/index.html

and my page for a good overview:

http://www.astronomicalspectroscopy.com/

 

The 1000 l/mm transmission grating is probably not a good starting point. Much easier with the SA100 or SA200 gratings.

 

[Stub Mandrel]

Thanks M

10 hours ago, Merlin66 said:

Buil's page is a good starting point.

http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/spectrographs.html

then there's the TRAGOS...

http://www.burwitz-astro.de/spectrographs/tragos/index.html

and my page for a good overview:

http://www.astronomicalspectroscopy.com/

 

The 1000 l/mm transmission grating is probably not a good starting point. Much easier with the SA100 or SA200 gratings.

 

That's brilliant, exactly the sort of thing I've been looking for, thanks ?

[Helen]

On 21/08/2018 at 04:27, skfboiler said:

A short while ago I was interested in spectroscopy. I read a couple of books but never went any further. I did come across a book by Ken M. Harrison called "Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs". Bought it from Amazon.com. I thought it was a very good read. He has a other books on the subject as well. Ken Harrison also has Yahoo user group on spectroscopy that seems to be very active. Perhaps a good resource if you join the group.

Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs
https://www.amazon.com/Astronomical-...y+for+amateurs

Spectroscopy Yahoo User group
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/...ctroscopy/info

For those of you who haven't made the link... Merlin66 is the expert (he is Ken Harrison ??)

Helen

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, Helen said:

For those of you who haven't made the link... Merlin66 is the expert (he is Ken Harrison ??)

Helen

Ha! Hiding his light under a... diffraction grating?