Regulus! Astronomy EducationVeil Nebula
SpectroscopySirius Spectrum: MX-5C 10 seconds
Taking CCD images is interesting and results in some lovely pictures to hang around the house and to show friends, but there is a lot more that an amateur astronomer can do these days. All of the advanced equipment that is now available offers the amateur a whole host of projects to choose from. Spectroscopy is now easily within reach of anyone with a small telescope! The spectra captured at the Northwood Ridge Observatory were done using scopes ranging in size from 106mm to 8", a Starlight Xpress MX-5c CCD imager, an SBIG ST-7 and a Rainbow Optics transmission grating. Any good CCD imager will do, and it does not need to be a color imager. The CCD camera is also optional. The Rainbow Optics unit is meant to be used at the eyepiece, and anyone can find absorption lines in bright stars using this device. Thus, an amateur can collect spectral data by sketching what is seen at the eyepiece. Those interested in the techniques I use for spectrography can visit this page: Amateur CCD Spectroscopy

These images are © Copyright 1983-2005 by John A. Blackwell. If you are interested in a copy of an image, please contact me. Images are available and can be printed on fine photo paper.

To see these images properly, you should adjust your monitor to see the following 17 greyscale steps (solid black to white):

Monitor Adjustment Scale

Stellar Spectra:

Object Spectral Type Notes
Enif K2Ib Variable Star Enif. Takahashi CN-212 f/12.4 fiber-fed spectrograph.
GSC 3600:183 ? Red star GSC 3600:183. Takahashi CN-212 f/3.9 grism spectrograph.
Z UMa Variable Variable Star Z Uma. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, Grism and ST-8XME.
0749+22C VAR NE in U Gem field. ? Variable Variable Star 0749+22C. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, Grism and ST-8XME.
R CMI mira-type variable CEP(CE) R CMi. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, Grism and ST-8XME.
R CNC mira-type variable M6e-M9e R CNC. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, Grism and ST-8XME.
Gamma Gem A0iv Gamma Gem. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, Grism and ST-8XME.
Regulus B7v Regulus. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, MX-5c and ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating. My first spectrum!
Regulus B7v Regulus. C-8 @ f/6.3, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Sirius A1V Sirius. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, MX-5c, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Alkaid B3V SB Sirius. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Altair A7 V-IV Altair. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, fiber-fed spectrometer.
Betelgeuse M2Ib Sirius. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Lamda Leonis K5IIIvar Lamda Leonis. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Gamma Leonis K0III Gamma Leonis. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Arcturus K2IIIp Arcturus. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Arcturus K2IIIp Arcturus. Celestron 8 at f/6.3, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Alpha Lynx M0IIIvar Alpha Lynx. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Theta Leonis A2V Theta Leonis (Chertan). Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Adhafera F0 Ahafera. C-8 @ f/10, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Epsilon Leonis G0 Epsilon Leonis. C-8 @ f/10, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Nekkar (Beta Boo) G8III Nekkar (Beta Boo). C-8 @ f/6.3, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Vir) G8IIIvar Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Vir). C-8 @ f/6.3, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Muphrid (Eta Boo) G0IV Muphrid (Eta Boo). C-8 @ f/6.3, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Porrima (Gamma Vir) F0V+ Porrima (Gamma Vir). C-8 @ f/6.3, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Theta CrB Hydrogen Emission B6Vnn Theta CrB. C-8 @ f/6.3, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Alphecca (Alpha CrB) A0V Alpha CrB (Alphecca). Tak FSQ-106n @ f/5, MX-5c, Rainbow Optics Grating.
Vega (Alpha Lyr) A0Vvar Alpha Lyr (Vega). Several spectra taken through various instruments.
Beta Lyr A8:V Beta Lyr. Tak FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-7, Rainbow Optics Grating + Wedge Prism.
The Sun's Spectrum (High Resolution) G2v Our Sun's Spectrum. SBIG SGS Spectrograph, no telescope, ST-7 NABG non-E.
The Sun's Spectrum (High Resolution: large image) G2v Our Sun's Spectrum. ST-237a, fiber fed Spectrometer.
Gamma Cas B0.5IV Gamma Cassiopeiae around H-Alpha. Tak FSQ-106n @ f/5, ST-237a, Nu-View II Spectrometer.

Quasar Spectra:

Quasar 3C 273 in Virgo Spectra of the quasar 3C 273 and comparisons with a local star to measure the quasar's redshift.

Nebulae Spectra:

M-57 Ring Nebula in Lyra M-57 Ring Nebula in Lyra. Shows the bright emission lines of 0-III and Hydrogen Alpha.
PN NGC 3242 NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter. Shows the bright emission lines of 0-III and Hydrogen Alpha.
M-42 Orion Nebula M-42 spectrum showing the bright emission lines of 0-III and Hydrogen Beta.

Spectral Comparisons:

Series of Spectra Comparisons between the spectra of stars imaged on various nights using the ST-7, Tak FSQ-106n, and C-8.
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Last Modified: 9/05/07 9:39a
This page: © Copyright 1997-2007 by John A. Blackwell