Practical Amateur Spectroscopy
contains everything you need to understand the basic principles, to begin
observing, and to interpret what the spectra that you have seen or recorded show
and mean. Contributions from leading practical amateur spectroscopers
from America and Europe cover a very wide range of equipment and techniques.
These range from using a CD as a grating, through home-built fibre-fed
instruments, to commercial spectrographs.
Click the subheadings to toggle their content on/off.
Chapter 1: Development of Stellar Spectroscopy — Stephen Tonkin Chapter 2: Gases and Spectra — Stephen Tonkin Chapter 3: Spectroscopes — Stephen Tonkin Chapter 4: The Spectral Classification of Stars — Stephen Tonkin
Practical Amateur Spectroscopy
Chapter 5: The CD Spectroscope — David Randell Chapter 6: Photographing and Analyzing the Spectra of Stars — Jack Martin Chapter 7: Two Spectrographs for Small Telescopes — Nick Glumac Chapter 8: Amateur Astronomical Spectroscopy with Some Commercial Spectrographs — Steve Dearden Chapter 9: Astronomical Spectroscopy with the SBIG-SGS — Dale Mais Chapter 10: Building and Using a High Precision Radial Velocity Spectrograph — Tom Kaye
"Tonkin combines clear and concise writing with the ability to express complex concepts in a form that will be understandable by any likely reader of the book ... well-written and informative ... should be on the reading list of every amateur astronomer..." Nick Martin, Deep Sky Observer, Vol 133, 2004
"... excellent introduction to spectroscopy fundamentals ... comprehensive guidance is given ... invaluable reference manual ... straightforward coverage of what could be a daunting subject ... highly
readable..." Federation of Astronomical Societies Newsletter
"... spectroscopy has been ignored by amateurs – this book
should help redress the balance... sample spectra are included that rival
professional work ... plenty of useful references ... must be recommended." Maurice Gavin, Astronomy Now, May, 2003
"...substantial and excellent roundup of the physics behind light and stellar spectra ... useful sections on building spectroscopes for mounting to telescopes ... (the book sparked) an interest in spectroscopy and a desire to learn more..." John Rowlands, Popular Astronomy, Vol. 50 (2), 2003
"Recommended." BAA Journal
"The spectroscope is undoubtedly a powerful analytical tool providing a foundation stone for modern professional astronomy and 'Practical amateur Spectroscopy' is a concise book helping explain the basics. ... As it was back in 1982 that I studied A-level physics, this book was a much-needed refresher course for me. ... if your academic background is in the sciences, particularly physics and mathematics, then I think this book is a really good read providing a fascinating insight into a very important facet of astronomy." Philip Moran, Astronomy & Space, January, 2003
Unto those Three Things
which the Ancients held to be impossible, there should be added this Fourth: to
find a Book printed without Errors. —
Alfonso the Wise (1221 - 84)
p ix, line 2 down delete: astronomer. but
insert: astronomer, but
p 9, line 6 up delete:
neutrons and electrons insert: protons and neutrons
p
10, Figure 2.1 delete: a unionized insert: an
unionized
p 12, Figure 2.3 caption delete: Koles insert:
Kaler
p 80, Figure 16 caption delete: Delta 3200 insert:
Delta ISO 3200
p 86, line 5 down delete: left insert:
right
p 115, Figure 7.10 caption delete: Cygnus insert:
Cygni
p 137, lines 8 & 9 down delete: H and H insert:
Hδ and Hε
p 146, line 4 down delete:
100 ìm insert: 100 μm
p
164, line 1 up delete: 11 200º K insert: 11 200
K
p 165, line 1 down delete: 13 000º K insert:
13 000K
