L200? tell me more.

[robz]

All, how much does it cost?
does it come assembled or in kit form?
can it be used visually, or is a camera necessary?
where can I get one?

Sorry about the lazy questions people, it's just that I have so many projects on the boil at the moment, it's hard to find time to search the threads at the moment.:D:rolleyes:

[Terry B]

Take a look here
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astronomical_spectroscopy/?yguid=333414068

The spectroscope can be used visually but this would not be very easy when it is connected to a scope. It is primarily for use with a camera. This can range from a webcam to a high end CCD or a digital SLR camera.

[robz]

Thanks Terry!:thumbsup:

[Merlin66]

The Spectra-L200 Kit is a Littrow spectroscope suitable for telescopes f7 and above. The last batch was selling to members around $900.
It can be used visually; great views of the solar spectrum for the kids but you'll get excellent results with almost any imaging camera.

[robz]

Thanks Merlin.
So it can be used visually, but there isn't much point unless you can analyse the spectra I suppose?

[Merlin66]

It's nice occasionally to do some "show and tell" but yes the ability to record and analyse the spectrum is what it's really all about.

[robz]

You know, I remember over 20 years ago, borrowing a hand held prism spectroscope from our Science department here at work (they have moved now) for the specific purpose of trying it at the eyepiece of a telescope.

For the life of me, the rest is a blank............I can't remember whether I tried it, didn't try it or it didn't work(my telescope at the time was not driven and was a pile of junk).

As a kid, I also recall playing around with replica gratings and prisms.I was never successful at seeing any star spectra.

Surely, my fellow spectra lovers, there is a cheaper way to see the spectra, use some form of chart as reference, and be able to simply identify some stars make up without spending hundreds............or am I wrong in assuming this?

Would a hand held(converted to couple to an eyepiece) prismatic (with fixed slit)spectroscope work on a large, fully driven telescope???:sadeyes:

[robz]

No responses guys?:question:

Well, I'll leave this thread as is for the moment, but will be searching for further information on the net.

I realise that some equipment needs serious money, even in D.I.Y., but I will not give up looking for a cheap alternative.............I'm stubborn like that:D

[Merlin66]

Rob,
I did type a reply...not sure what happened!!
The answer is yes.
A DV with the slit removed ( the star image becomes the effective slit) mounted rigidly behind an eyepiece and then the camera with its lens focus on infinity, mounted rigidly behind will get you there.
GOTO sold a star spectroscope in the early 60's which screwed onto the end of their eyepieces.
You'll have fun and see the spectrum of the brighter stars.
IMHO it would be easier to save up for a grating.

[robz]

Sorry for the late reply here Merlin, but just re-visiting the above, does this mean that the visible spectrum will be too faint for visual analysing, thus the need for a camera?

[Merlin66]

With the very small dispersion from the DV spectroscopes the spectrum can be bright enough to see some detail.
When you increase the dispersion (by using gratings) it does get very faint very quickly and imaging is the only option.

[robz]

I see.......thanks Merlin.:thumbsup: