Astronomical Spectrographs and Their History

Astronomical Spectrographs and Their History
Author: John Hearnshaw
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2009-02-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0521882575

Astronomical spectrographs analyse light emitted by the Sun, stars, galaxies and other objects in the Universe, and have been used in astronomy since the early nineteenth century. This book provides a comprehensive account of spectrographs from an historical perspective, from their theory and development over the last two hundred years, to the recent advances of the early twenty-first century. The author combines the theoretical principles behind astronomical spectrograph design with their historical development. Spectrographs of all types are considered, with prism, grating or grism dispersing elements. Included are Cassegrain, coudé, prime focus, échelle, fibre-fed, ultraviolet, nebular, objective prism, multi-object instruments and those which are ground-based, on rockets and balloons or in space. The book contains several tables listing the most significant instruments, around 900 references, and over 150 images, making it an indispensable reference for professional astronomers, graduate students, advanced amateur astronomers, and historians of science.

Astronomical Spectrographs and Their History

Astronomical Spectrographs and Their History
Author: J. B. Hearnshaw
Publisher:
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2014-05-14
Genre: Spectrograph
ISBN: 9781139092814

Indispensable reference on the historical development of spectrographs for advanced amateur and professional astronomers, graduate students, and historians of science.

The Analysis of Starlight

The Analysis of Starlight
Author: John B. Hearnshaw
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2014-03-17
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1107031745

A reference for astronomers and historians on astronomical spectroscopy, from the discovery of spectral lines through to the year 2000.

Optical Astronomical Spectroscopy

Optical Astronomical Spectroscopy
Author: C.R. Kitchin
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 292
Release: 1995-01-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781420050691

A concise introduction, Optical Astronomical Spectroscopy appeals to the newcomer of astronomical spectroscopy and assumes no previous specialist knowledge. Beginning from the physical background of spectroscopy with a clear explanation of energy levels and spectroscopic notation, the book proceeds to introduce the main techniques of optical spectroscopy and the range of instrumentation that is available. With clarity and directness, it then describes the applications of spectroscopy in modern astronomy, such as the solar system, stars, nebulae, the interstellar medium, and galaxies, giving an immediate appeal to beginners.

Introduction to Astronomical Spectroscopy

Introduction to Astronomical Spectroscopy
Author: Immo Appenzeller
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2013
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1107015790

Thoroughly illustrated and clearly written, this handbook offers graduate students and active researchers a practical guide to astronomical spectroscopy.

Practical Amateur Spectroscopy

Practical Amateur Spectroscopy
Author: Stephen F. Tonkin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2013-11-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1447101278

This book contains everything an amateur astronomer needs to know to begin observing whilst going relatively deeply into the subject for those who are already involved. Covers a very wide range of available equipment, from simple DIY spectroscopes to the most expensive commercially-made instruments. Describes basic principles so that the reader understands how to analyse the spectra he/she sees or records. Contributions by leading amateurs astronomers from the USA and Europe.

Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs

Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs
Author: Ken M. Harrison
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2011-02-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1441972390

Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs is a complete guide for amateur astronomers who are looking for a new challenge. After a brief overview of the development of spectroscopes and an introduction to the theory of stellar spectra, the book goes on to examine the various types of spectroscopes available to amateurs. Next, practical sections address all aspects of setting-up and using various types of commercially-available and home-built spectroscopes. A final part gives detailed instructions for the design and construction of three different spectroscopes, along with the necessary design theory (minimal math). The home-made spectroscopes have performance capabilities near or equal to commercial units but are constructed using basic hand tools for a fraction of the cost! This up-to-date practical spectroscopy book will enable amateur astronomers to develop the skills and equipment needed to prepare scientifically acceptable spectra data, and to make a valuable contribution to ProAm projects.

The Analysis of Starlight

The Analysis of Starlight
Author: J. B. Hearnshaw
Publisher: CUP Archive
Total Pages: 554
Release: 1990-04-19
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9780521399166

This book presents a detailed pedagogical account of the equation of state and its applications in several important and fast growing topics in theoretical physics, chemistry and engineering. This book is the storv of the analysis of starlight by astronomical spectroscopy. It describes the development of the subject from the time of Joseph Fraunhofer, who, in 1814, used a telescope-mounted prism to observe the spectral light emitted from several bright stars. He discovered that light was missing at certain colours (wavelengths) in the starlight, and these so-called spectral lines were subsequently shown to hold clues to the nature of the stars themselves. The book explains how the classification of stars using their line spectra developed into a major branch of astronomy whilst new methods in astrophysics made possible the approximate quantitative analysis of spectral lines in the 1920s and 1930s. After the Second World War these techniques were considerably improved when computers were programmed to model the structure of the outer layers of stars. Basic concepts in spectroscopy and spectral analysis are also covered and. finally. Dr Hearnshaw comments on the stellar spectroscopy of some individual star.

Using Commercial Amateur Astronomical Spectrographs

Using Commercial Amateur Astronomical Spectrographs
Author: Jeffrey L. Hopkins
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 309
Release: 2013-11-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319014420

Amateur astronomers interested in learning more about astronomical spectroscopy now have the guide they need. It provides detailed information about how to get started inexpensively with low-resolution spectroscopy, and then how to move on to more advanced high-resolution spectroscopy. Uniquely, the instructions concentrate very much on the practical aspects of using commercially-available spectroscopes, rather than simply explaining how spectroscopes work. The book includes a clear explanation of the laboratory theory behind astronomical spectrographs, and goes on to extensively cover the practical application of astronomical spectroscopy in detail. Four popular and reasonably-priced commercially available diffraction grating spectrographs are used as examples. The first is a low-resolution transmission diffraction grating, the Star Analyser spectrograph. The second is an inexpensive fiber optic coupled bench spectrograph that can be used to learn more about spectroscopy. The third is a newcomer, the ALPY 600 spectrograph. The fourth spectrograph considered is at the other end of the market both in performance and cost, the high-resolution Lhires III. While considerably more expensive, this is a popular and excellent scientific instrument, that allows more advanced amateur astronomers to produce scientifically valuable data. With all of these tools in place, the amateur astronomer is well-prepared to forger deeper into the night sky using spectroscopy.

A History of Astronomy

A History of Astronomy
Author: David Leverington
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1447121244

The history of astronomy is, like most history, a multidimensional story, and when writing about a specific period, the author has to decide how to handle all the developments of earlier times in order to set the scene. I have done this by starting most chapters of the book with a summary of astronomical knowledge at the beginning of our chosen period, together with a brief review of how such knowledge had been gained. This story is not only interesting in itself, but it will also assist those readers that would appreciate a brief reminder of some of the basic elements of astronomy. It is also necessary to decide when to start our history. Should it be the year 1900 or 1890, or should it be linked to some key development or investigation, e. g. the discovery of the electron by J. J. Thomson in 1897, or the discovery of spectroscopic binary stars by Pickering and Vogel (independently) in 1889, or maybe the year 1890 in which Thomas Edison tried unsuccessfully to detect radio waves from the Sun and Johannes Rydberg published his formula for atomic spectra? I have, in fact, decided to start this history at about 1890, as it was the year of publication of the Draper Memorial Catalogue of stellar spectra which, together with its updates, provided essential data for the understanding of stellar spectra until well into the twentieth century. This date also gives a clear hundred years up to the present.