[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I was somewhat vague with my question, although you covered it well, i downloaded a sprectum app for the iPad ..... Crikeys trying to work out what line pertains to what element..... Got your work cutout there. It would be interesting to know if any particular change, indicates a SN potential, although having listened to one of the Astros omy 162 lectures, it just goes without any visual warning, but more research will no doubt clarify that.

Oh I know what you mean, Clive. It's all very daunting at first. However, it gets better with a bit of experience. You soon get to know what lines to expect in what type of star, and VSpec (the freeware I use to process spectra) has some cool tools to help identify lines etc.

Originally Posted by Alchemy

I have noted, during my reading, of spectroscopic binaries, have you been able to image a spectrum and clarify the difference, or are we going to a whole different level with that kind of detail?

Edit, whilst My curiosity has been pricked, is it possible for amateur measurements to check for star velocity..... I suspect that's a tough one requiring serious detail in the spectrum, but I thought I'd ask anyway

Thanks
Clive

Generally, you have a fair idea what spectral class a star is before capturing a spectrum, so for spectroscopic binaries it would be possible to subtract the spectrum from one of the stars (using a library spectrum of the correct type) to reveal the spectrum of the other.

Amateurs can certainly make doppler shift measurements of stars, galaxies and quasars. To do it justice requires a higher resolution (slit type) spectrograph rather than the Staranalyser (SA100) which I currently have.

I think I remember a post on the Staranalyser Yahoo group about some doppler shift measurments made with an SA! It can be done, but you need a big doppler shift.

Al.