Diy spectroscope

[p1taylor]

Hi All, This may have been don before, I want to make a spectroscope or is it spectrograph out of 2 camera lenses and a reflective grating, to go on my Meade RCX 10", I guide with a ZS 80II ED and Lodestar, been imaging for a good few years and want a change, are there any drawings of how to do make one.
peter

[sheeny]

G'Day Peter,

Ken Harrison (Merlin66) has a Y! Group called astronomical_spectroscopy, and has made up kits for an L200 Littrow Spectrograph. Its worth joining up to that group and keep an ear out for the next batch.

Al.

[Merlin66]

Peter,
We can help!
In the "Projects & Articles" section there's a couple of write-ups on DIY spectroscopes - a Classical and a Littrow.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-339-0-0-1-0.html
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-500-0-0-1-0.html
The Astronomical_spectroscopy group was established with the sole purpose/intent of providing support and resouce material for the amateur spectroscopist.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astronomical_spectroscopy/

Then there's "Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs" -published by Springer (available through Amazon). Section three of this book walks you through the theory and construction of various spectroscopes.
IMHO the hardest part, and probably the most important part, is the slit and being able to effectively aquire and guide on your target star...
Hope this helps.

[p1taylor]

Thanks Guys for your help, from reading I have don shofar best bet I have found is one using a 200mm camera lens and a CD but not a lot of info how to do it, do you think this will work, if so I will have a go I have a 200mm lens.

peter

peter

[Merlin66]

Peter,
Using a CD (or DVD) is OK to play...it will show you a spectrum....
If you want to do any serious spectroscopy then think in terms of a transmission grating, like the Star Analyser or use your camera lenses with a proper reflection grating to make a Classical spectroscope.....

[p1taylor]

Ken,
Is there any were I can get bits that are not as expensive, looking at cost of Star Analyser is nearly £140 and gratings a lot more, I would really love to have one but no way will Joyce let me spend that.

peter

[Merlin66]

Hmmm
That's the cost of entry.....
You could post a wanted message over on the astronomical spectroscopy forum - see if there are any s/h gratings available..
Which camera lenses do you have available?

[p1taylor]

Hi Ken,
The one I have is a Cosinon Auto MC F=3.5 f= 200mm, I will post a message and see if I can get a grating, trouble is OP pension dos not leave a lot of spare cash, but will get there one way or a another.

peter

[p1taylor]

Hi Ken,
You were right I asked round and found a complete spectroscope.

peter

[sheeny]

What'd you get, Peter?

Al.

[p1taylor]

Don't really know, it is a DIY one.

peter

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi
I found this program many years ago on making a spectroscope. It involves using a SCT telescope with a diffraction grating printed on overhead projector film with a laser printer (I made one with a HP5M printer). I think it was originally on the Meade web site as an application to be used with the Pictor 416 CCD camera.

I don't know if it will run on later computers but I used Windows 98SE about 12 years ago to test the program and look at the test spectra. I never used it to take a spectrum because I never had a camera at the time.

The program is shareware and there may be later versions. I have never checked.

Barry

PS I was given a small handheld spectroscope on permanent loan that could be used for chemical analysis

[p1taylor]

Thanks for all your help, when spectrograph is altered will let you know how it work's.

peter