Spectroscopy – a practical approach for amateurs

Tom Field will explain the science behind spectroscopy and how the analysis of light from distant objects tells us a great deal about it’s source.

Using a ‘Star Analyser’ and software written by Tom, amateur astronomers can get involved in this fascinating aspect of astronomy.  As Tom says, “Wouldn’t you like to detect the atmosphere on Neptune or the red shift of a quasar right from our own backyard?”

Tom Field has been a Contributing Editor at Sky & Telescope Magazine for the past seven years. He is the author of the RSpec software (www.rspec-astro.com) which received the S&T “Hot Product” award in 2011. Tom has spoken to hundreds of clubs via the web and in-person at many conferences in the USA and he will be joining us LIVE from Seattle.

Image credit: V. D’Odorico (Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) – https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1649a/
Spectrum from quasar HE 0940-1050 after it has travelled through intergalactic medium