Project Idea

[l3gendluk3]

Well I have done the calculations and the rotation of the sun produces a smaller shift than I can measure with the sgs, so does anyone have a good project that I can undertake in around 4 weeks that involves the SGS and the sun? Extra materials aren't really a problem as I have access to our schools physics and chemistry store rooms which house such useful items as emission lamps.

Any ideas would be great,

Thanks,

Luke

[robin_astro]

Hi Luke,

Here is one idea

Although not a measurement of the sun itself, you could use the sun as a light source to measure the absorption spectrum of the Earth's atmosphere. Use the lowest resolution grating to give maximum wavelength range (most of the interesting atmospheric absorption lines are in the far red/IR) and record the sun at different heights above the horizon. By dividing one by the other you get the absorption due to the extra atmosphere at the lower elevation. Simple geometry will give you this as a ratio to the vertical thickness of the atmosphere.
What causes the absorption lines ? Is the intensity of the lines constant or do some vary in intensity from day to day eg with humidity. What causes the general shape of the absorption spectrum ? Does this change with time?

Here are some potentially useful references
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/extinction/calcul.htm
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/atmosphere/transmission.htm

(In French but google translates well enough)


Cheers
Robin

[l3gendluk3]

That is a really good idea robin, thanks! I will set up the spectrometer in the next couple of days and align it in the next week or so, just in time for summer and some clear blue skies :)

I will hopefully post a report after I have finished it
Thanks,

Luke

[CarlJoseph]

Wish I had a spectrometer when I went to school.

Make sure you post your results here. Sounds like an interesting project.