Rainbow Optics Star Spectroscopes

trent_julie · #1 12-02-2010, 05:32 PM

Hello all,

I have spotted the rainbow optics star spectroscope, I would like to ask if anyone in the forum has tried this type of spectroscope? or even if there might be a local manufacturer that makes something similar, I'm not looking to spend more than a couple of hundred on any particular device as I am not even sure if i will continue to pursue this aspect of the hobby post purchase..

here is the link........I can't see any email links to ask these questions......
(www.starspectroscope.com/)

Any thoughts or suggestions would as usual, be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Trent

sheeny (Al) · #2 12-02-2010, 06:31 PM

G'Day Trent,

I haven't tried the Rainbow Optics Star Spectroscope, but I do have a Paton Hawkesley Star Analyser 100 which is very similar. The SA has 100lines/mm while the RO has 200l/mm, which in theory give greater dispersion that the SA.

I'm sure Ken or Bernard will chip in with comments about the RO (I'm not sure who else may have used the RO).

I purchased my SA direct from Paton Hawkesley, but I think I remember Matt at Telescopes-Astronomy in Adelaide also had them on his list.

I'm not aware of anyone making anything similar in Oz.

Al.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #3 17-02-2010, 03:49 AM

I had one for a while... unfortunately the grating started to break down... I returned it and was given full credit ( not often you get that kind of service today!) and bought a Baader 207 l/mm grating instead.
Jack Martin here in the UK uses the RO grating and has done some excellent work with it.
Well worth considering.
Ken

Quark (Trevor) · #4 22-02-2010, 06:57 PM

Hi Julie,

I have had a Rain Bow Optics star spectra scope for about 7 years. Don Whiteman at BINTEL put me onto it and it has performed very well and seems very robust. I use it from time to time when I have school groups visit my observatory. I have also taken it out in the field with my astronomy group. I use it in a 16mm Konig which seems ideal for my 16" F4.5 Newt and 12" F5 Lightbridge. It comes with a most informative manual and it is a piece of kit that I have no problem recommending to others.

Regards
Trevor

Merlin66 (Ken) · #5 22-02-2010, 07:10 PM

Trevor,
Have you tried any imaging with it?
Just interested.....
Ken

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #6 22-02-2010, 07:51 PM

I have had one for several years. It is very well made and it does exactly what it is claimed to do. It has 3 diametrically opposed set screws which you use to attach it to the top of your eyepiece. Consequently, it works best when used with a straight sided eyepiece which has no rubber eyeguard and also having reasonable eye relief. I use mine with an 18mm UO HD orthoscopic and it works perfectly.

Cheers,
John B

Merlin66 (Ken) · #7 22-02-2010, 08:23 PM

John,
Just to clarify...
The RO200 grating screws into an eyepiece similar to a conventional filter. There's also a cylinderical lens (in a holder) which can be used for visual work by fitting it over the end of the eyepiece.
This lens "broadens" the spectrum making it fainter but easier to see.
The cylinderical lens isn't required for imaging with the RO200; the RO200 grating can be fitted into the nosepiece of the camera/ webcam etc to give very good spectra.

Ken

robin_astro · #8 24-02-2010, 04:22 AM

Hi Ken,

There are two versions of Rainbow Optics spectrographs, the "photo/visual" (similar to the Star Analyser concept) and the "visual" The latter has the grating and cylindrical lens both mounted on top of the eyepiece
http://www.starspectroscope.com/ProductList.html

Robin

Merlin66 (Ken) · #9 24-02-2010, 04:36 AM

Robin,
Thanks for that!
The one I had must have been the Photo/ Visual with the separate filter grating and the rear cylinderical lens....
http://www.starspectroscope.com/spectroscopedesign.html
I didn't realise there was a 'Visual only" version.
Sorry for any confusion!!
Ken

trent_julie · #10 25-02-2010, 04:47 PM

Thanks for all the replies,

I am yet to decide on what avenue to follow, but it seems that R.O no longer exports outside of country.

The Baader seems like the way to go, but once more a decision is still in the works.

Thanks once more for all your input.

Trent

Merlin66 (Ken) · #11 25-02-2010, 07:18 PM

Trent,
Further bad news, I'm sorry to say....
The Baader 200 l/mm grating is currently not being produced. Baader hope (!) to be able to re-introduce it at the end of 2010.
That leaves the 100 l/mm Star Analyser.

Ken

Quark (Trevor) · #12 25-02-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Trevor,
Have you tried any imaging with it?
Just interested.....
Ken

Hi Ken, no I haven't tried imaging with it, that is on my to do list, I seem to keep getting involved with various planetary imaging projects that take up my time.

Regards
Trevor

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #13 25-02-2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Robin,
Thanks for that!
The one I had must have been the Photo/ Visual with the separate filter grating and the rear cylinderical lens....
http://www.starspectroscope.com/spectroscopedesign.html
I didn't realise there was a 'Visual only" version.
Sorry for any confusion!!
Ken

Hi ken,

Here is the spiel on the "visual only" unit from the rainbow Optics Website:-

Star Spectroscope: Visual, $199

This instrument is for visual spectroscopy with 1.25-inch and .96-inch eyepieces. It fits eyepieces with an eye-end diameter of 1.5-inch or less. This is typical of most Plossls, Kellners, and orthoscopics. This spectroscope looks just like the lens cell of the two-piece spectroscope described in the Design page but it contains both optical elements: a spectrum-widening lens and a high-performance, glass, blazed diffraction grating. The grating is different than the one used in the grating cell of the two-piece spectroscope because it is positioned on top of the eyepiece instead of below. Spectrum length is fixed and spectrum width is adjustable. This spectroscope is a bit easier to set up than the two-piece model.

The one-piece Visual Star Spectroscope

Cheers,
John B

trent_julie · #14 27-02-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Trent,
Further bad news, I'm sorry to say....
The Baader 200 l/mm grating is currently not being produced. Baader hope (!) to be able to re-introduce it at the end of 2010.
That leaves the 100 l/mm Star Analyser.

Ken

OK..... thats a pain...thanks for the info, I think I might wait until the baader is available again. unless something pops up second hand somewhere.
Cheers,

Trent

Merlin66 (Ken) · #15 27-02-2010, 08:40 PM

The P-H Star Analyser would do the job very well. I have both the Baader and the SA100. The 100 l/mm gives a good dispersion with a spacing of 60mm in the converging beam.

Ken

phxbird (Paul) · #16 06-03-2010, 02:17 PM

I have been using the Star Analyzer and really like it. In fact it is the most interesting thing i have ever done in astronomy. You can get one from Olivier Thizy in France and i know they do ship all over the world. Here is the link:
http://www.shelyak.com/en/star-analyser.html

robin_astro · #17 09-03-2010, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phxbird

I have been using the Star Analyzer and really like it. In fact it is the most interesting thing i have ever done in astronomy. You can get one from Olivier Thizy in France and i know they do ship all over the world. Here is the link:
http://www.shelyak.com/en/star-analyser.html

Wow thanks Paul, and I promise I did not pay him a single cent to say that

Also direct from the manufacturer
www.patonhawksley.co.uk/staranalyser.htm

Robin
www.threhillsobservatory.co.uk