This gallery contains visible light spectra of stars. I obtained the spectra by placing an RSpec diffraction grating onto the back end of 8-11" telescopes, recording the diffracted light directly, and creating a light intensity vs. wavelength spectrum using the RSpec software. What can be learned by doing this? Well, the measured spectra can be used to determine the chemical makeup of a star's atmosphere as well as it's surface temperature (and hence it's Spectral Type on the HR diagram). It's an extremely powerful and relatively easy to do technique that is really lots of fun. In this gallery are dozens of spectra of stars ranging in Temperature from about 3,000-30,000 degrees.

All Star Spectra - OBAFGKM

$To measure the light spectra from stars, we put a diffraction grating ring into the back of the telescope. The image of the star passes through the grating and the diffracted light falls on the CCD camera. After some calibration, the RSPEC software then converts the spectrum into a plot of light intensity vs. wavelength.$

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To measure the light spectra from stars, we put a diffraction grating ring into the back of the telescope. The image of the star passes through the grating and the diffracted light falls on the CCD camera. After some calibration, the RSPEC software then converts the spectrum into a plot of light intensity vs. wavelength.

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$To measure the light spectra from stars, we put a diffraction grating ring into the back of the telescope. The image of the star passes through the grating and the diffracted light falls on the CCD camera. After some calibration, the RSPEC software then converts the spectrum into a plot of light intensity vs. wavelength.$

Oxford Astro Pics

All Star Spectra - Star Types OBAFGKM

For an ordered list of my measured spectra of more than 50 stars see also this page.

All Star Spectra - OBAFGKM