From: Terrence Redding <tredding@mac.com>

Date: April 22, 2011 6:30:25 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Spectroscopy

Good morning all,

I have been one of the silent followers of this conversation.  In trying to understand the issues involved I have reviewed Buchheim's comments in "The Sky is your Laboratory" and scanned through Tonkin's "Practical Amateur Spectroscopy."  I am surprised my the apparent opportunity for amateur astronomers to do "science" in this area.

Using say an 8" scope, what magnitude object will be within reach of the system/design being discussed?  It appears we are talking both hardware and software.  I would have thought our conversation would focus on software use coupled with existing hardware?

Much of this work appears to be doable from within the light dome of a city and that is of interest to me.   I am keenly interested in the use of amateur spectroscopy in education and wonder if that is being done now with some standard solution as part of a course is physics or advanced astronomy.

I am happy to follow the conversation and simply read along.

Terry - W6LMJ