Using Commercial Amateur Astronomical Spectrographs

309 Pages·2014·11.91 MB·English

by  Jeffrey L. Hopkins (auth.)

Jeffrey L. Hopkins
Using
Commercial
Amateur
Astronomical
Spectrographs
The Patrick Moore
The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series
For further volumes:
http://www.springer.com/series/3192

Using
Commercial
Amateur
Astronomical
Spectrographs
Jeffrey L. Hopkins
Jeffrey L. Hopkins
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
ISSN 1431-9756
ISBN 978-3-319-01441-8 ISBN 978-3-319-01442-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-01442-5
Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013947793
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,
broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information
storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection
with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and
executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this
publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s
location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions
for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to
prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of
publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for
any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein.
Printed on acid-free paper
Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Leah Dawn Hopkins, Kaitlyn Joanne Hopkins, Ryan
Lawrence Hopkins and Alexander Jakob Schramm. May my precious grandkids fi nd
awe and excitement in science and astronomy for the understanding of the Universe.
v

Foreword
Jeffrey Hopkins has done it again. Following up on his successful 2012, self-
published book, “Small Telescope Astronomical Spectroscopy”, he’s again gone to
a dark place with this new, expanded volume about what is achievable when dis-
persing light and obtaining spectra with small telescopes.
Having worked with Jeff on two observing campaigns related to the rare eclipses
of epsilon Aurigae – in the 1982–1984 time frame, and again for the 2009–2011
eclipse – it has been remarkable to watch as his evolution paralleled the advances
in technology over these decades. The key advance is the commercialization of the
CCD detector, which has increased light gathering power of telescopes by factors
of 1,000. The Nobel Prize committee in 2009 fi nally recognized the achievement
by Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith “for the invention of an imaging semi-
conductor circuit – the CCD sensor”. Because spectrographs further disperse the
sparse incoming stellar photons, photographic spectroscopy had been limited to
only large telescopes prior to the CCD revolution.
Hence, in the past decade, affordable CCD cameras plus newly available cost-
effective spectrometers, have increased the opportunities for small telescope spec-
troscopy, and hence the timeliness of this new volume. The role of advanced
amateurs in obtaining and analyzing data is becoming ever more crucial in an era
when larger telescopes pursue extragalactic science, and/or are being closed due to
funding problems. This “citizen science” contribution can sustain research, in ways
similar to long-term reports on sunspot numbers, the brightness of variable stars,
counts of migrating birds and similar “crowd-sourced” data gathering.
Following a sweeping review of spectroscopy theory, Jeff surveys currently
available affordable digital cameras and spectroscopic equipment; he then provides
a generic step-by-step tutorial for obtaining spectra. Subsequent chapters explore
facets of working with individual instruments including the Star Analyzer, DIY,
vii
viii Foreword
ALPY 600 and the LHIRES Spectrographs. This set spans the range of capabilities
suitable for small telescopes with fi nite light gathering capability, from low disper-
sion, appropriate for exploration of diverse light sources, to moderate dispersion,
where quantitative measurement of stellar phenomena becomes feasible. He wraps
up with a thorough discussion of available spectrum processing software, particu-
larly Tom Field’s RSPEC. The appendices provide handy and useful reference
material that will accelerate the user’s ability to get out of the dark and into the
colorful brightness of astronomical spectra.
If you’ve read this review, you will like the book!
Robert Stencel
Professor of Astronomy
University of Denver
Preface

In some astronomical circles, if you are not a professional astronomer, then by
default you are an amateur astronomer. What is the difference between a profes-
sional astronomer and an amateur astronomer? If a person has a Ph.D. in physics
or astronomy, that person is certainly a professional. I have great respect for anyone
who has a PhD, particularly in physics or astronomy.
I am called an amateur astronomer, but do professional quality work. I am still
labeled an amateur, however. I have written several astronomy-related books, arti-
cles for S ky & T elescope and a cover feature for A stronomy magazine. S ky &
Telescope even classi fi ed me among others as “Super Amateurs.” So-called amateur
astronomers contribute a great deal to astronomy, but are usually unsung heroes. Oh
we hear about an occasional amateur astronomer discovering a new comet or per-
haps supernova, but there are actually hundreds of amateurs contributing real sci-
ence to astronomy every day.
The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is composed
mostly of non-professional astronomers. Many of the more serious amateur astron-
omers have college degrees and many have a PhD in fi elds other than physics or
astronomy. They are all considered amateur astronomers. Everyone associated with
astronomy has heard of George Ellery Hale (1868–1938). He was responsible for
the giant 40″ Yerkes refractor telescope, Mt. Wilson telescopes such as the Hooker
100″ and the most famous one the Mt. Palomar, the 200″ Hale Telescope. Hale is
also responsible for many important discoveries through his observing. Hale had
only an undergraduate degree and never received a graduate degree, no Ph.D. Yet
Hale was certainly a professional, but by most current de fi nition, he was an amateur
astronomer. He surely was not an amateur, however. Clyde Tombaugh (1906–1997),
discoverer of Pluto, was an amateur astronomer. He never received a Ph.D., but in
most circles he was considered a professional.
ix