Spectroscopy

Learning from Light is a set of pages tackling how we use light to learn about the Universe. Sections include how to measure a spectrum, spectroscopy in space and spectroscopy as a tool of astronomers. It is part of the outreach material developed for the FUSE UV space-based telescope program. <
Spectra is an excellent site written by Prof James Kaler, author of classic books on stellar spectroscopy and stars. There are thirty subsections each of an effective length and easily found. <

• Stellar Spectroscopy is a set of four slides from Armagh Observatory that provide a basic, visual introduction. <

• Applet: Spectrum is a simple but effective Java applet that shows the frequency, wavelength and energy of any region of the em spectrum as you drag a mouse across it. It also shows sources of the different wavebands, how we detect them and some uses of each. <

• BlackBody Physlet is an effective Java applet that allows you to see the Planck curve and colour for stars of different temperatures. <

• Mini Spectroscopy "is a simplified version of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics full-featured spectroscopy software called Virtual Spectroscope." The Java applet allows you produce a spectrum from a fluorescent lamp, the Sun, a red LED, Hydrogen and three galaxies. They appear as photographic and intensity plots against a reference spectrum. <

Australia Telescope Outreach and Education list of good spectroscopy sites for Astronomical Spectroscopy, Catalogs and Sources of Spectra, Applets, Activities and Software. <