"Grating Spectroscopes - How to use them" is now available from Springer and Amazon.
Ideal introduction to spectroscopy for users of the Rainbow Optics or Star Analyser gratings.
Thanks for the note. It hasn't yet hit the shelves of The Book Depository in the UK (Free postage worldwide) but shouldn't be too long. I have a Rainbow Optics Star Spectroscope that I need to do something about using so this book could be useful.
Charles
Peter,
If you're starting spectroscopy from "ground zero" and intend doing "spectroscopy 101" with a Star Analyser or Rainbow Optics grating, then the "Grating Spectroscopes - How to use them." would be a better choice.
If you want to read more on diffraction gratings, prisms and designing and building spectroscopes, then the other book is better.
The easiest way is to buy a Paton-Hawksley Star Analyser grating and the book mentioned below.
The detail and resolution you can get will very much depend on the equipment you use (standard camera/ lenses or through the telescope with a webcam/ CCD)
Getting started i.e. obtaining a spectrum, is relativity easy; getting good spectra and being able to process them to show all the hidden detail...is a bit more difficult!