Spectral Atlas for Amateur Astronomers

A Guide to the Spectra of Astronomical Objects and Terrestrial Light Sources

Richard Walker

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9781107165908
• eBook ISBN:
  9781316731048
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Astronomy & Astrophysics

Featuring detailed commented spectral profiles of more than one hundred astronomical objects, in colour, this spectral guide documents most of the important and spectroscopically observable objects accessible using typical amateur equipment. It allows you to read and interpret the recorded spectra of the main stellar classes, as well as most of the steps from protostars through to the final stages of stellar evolution as planetary nebulae, white dwarfs or the different types of supernovae. It also presents integrated spectra of stellar clusters, galaxies and quasars, and the reference spectra of some terrestrial light sources, for calibration purposes. Whether used as the principal reference for comparing with your recorded spectra or for inspiring independent observing projects, this atlas provides a breathtaking view into our Universe's past. The atlas is accompanied and supplemented by Spectroscopy for Amateur Astronomers, which explains in detail the methods for recording, processing, analysing and interpreting your spectra.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title
• Title page
• Copyright information
• Table of contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1 Directory of Plates
• Chapter 2 Selection, Processing and Presentation of the Spectra
• Chapter 3 Terms, Definitions and Abbreviations
• Chapter 4 Overview and Characteristics of Stellar Spectral Classes
• Chapter 5 Spectral Class O
• Chapter 6 Spectral Class B
• Chapter 7 Spectral Class A
• Chapter 8 Spectral Class F
• Chapter 9 Spectral Class G
• Chapter 10 Spectral Class K
• Chapter 11 Spectral Class M
• Chapter 12 Spectral Sequence on the AGB
• Chapter 13 M(e) Stars on the AGB
• Chapter 14 Spectral Class S on the AGB
• Chapter 15 Carbon Stars on the AGB
• Chapter 16 Post-AGB Stars and White Dwarfs
• Chapter 17 Wolf–Rayet Stars
• Chapter 18 LBV Stars
• Chapter 19 Be Stars
• Chapter 20 Be Shell Stars
• Chapter 21 Pre-Main Sequence Protostars
• Chapter 22 Chemically Peculiar (CP) Stars
• Chapter 23 Spectroscopic Binaries
• Chapter 24 Novae
• Chapter 25 Supernovae
• Chapter 26 Extragalactic Objects
• Chapter 27 Star Clusters
• Chapter 28 Emission Nebulae
• Chapter 29 Reflectance Spectra of Solar System Bodies
• Chapter 30 Telluric Molecular Absorption
• Chapter 31 The Night Sky Spectrum
• Chapter 32 The Mesospheric Sodium Layer
• Chapter 33 Terrestrial and Calibration Light Sources
• Appendix A Spectral Classes and v sin i Values of Bright Stars
• Appendix B The 88 IAU Constellations
• Appendix C Spectral Classes and B–V Color Index
• Appendix D Spectral Classes and Effective Temperatures
• Appendix E Excitation Classes of Bright Planetary Nebulae
• Appendix F Ionization Energies of Important Elements
• Appendix G Spectroscopic Measures and Units
• Appendix H Distant AGN and Quasars Brighter than mv ≈ 16
• Appendix J Excerpts from Historical Spectral Atlases
• Appendix K Instruments
• Bibliography
• Subject Index
• Stellar Index
• Object Index: Deep Sky and Solar System