August meeting: Simpler Spectroscopy using the Star Analyser by Julian West

Our meetings include brief business, a main presentation and items of astronomical news or learning from members. The August Main Item will be: Simpler Spectroscopy using the Star Analyser by our Spectroscopy Section Director Julian West (synopsis and speaker details below).

The August 2022 meeting is planned to be a face-to-face meeting; attendees can also join in online via Zoom. Details emailed to members. Guests/visitors can contact us for Zoom details at .
Any venue requirements re COVID-19 can be found here: https://about.uq.edu.au/coronavirus

Visitors are welcome to join our face-to-face or online meetings.

Please stay home and attend online if you have any COVID-19 symptoms or are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Main presentation synopsis

Spectroscopy tells us almost all we know about the Universe, whether it be stars, galaxies,
supernovae, or nebulae. This may appear to be both expensive and complex, yet the opportunity to
do ‘real science’ is available to the amateur at low cost. Julian will describe practical, slit-less
spectroscopy, and will introduce the simple concepts needed to turn your own spectrum images into
useful scientific results.

As an amateur astronomer for some decades, Julian has focused on spectroscopy for the past 15
years or so. He has designed and built several spectrographs, and currently uses a Spectra-L200
spectrograph using the Littrow design, with a range of diffraction gratings to give a choice of
resolution and spectral coverage. He also uses the Star Analyser grating in a joint project between
AAQ members and the Observatori Astronomic del Garraf in Spain.