Inspecting Sunlight --- Introduction to Astronomy

MSU STEAM Day 15-Apr-2023
Aki Takeda and Rhiannon Fleming (Montana State Univ.)

0. Introduction : Different Faces of the Sun

These pictures of the Sun are taken on the same day, using different types of telescopes. (21-August, 2017)

Our Sun radiates energy in a wide range of wavelength.








another plot
Spectrum shows relative strength of different components of light.

Solar spectrum contains a wealth of information about the physical state of the Sun (outer layer of the Sun).

1. Your mission in this workshop.

  • (1) Build your own spectrograph. --- Understand how it works.
  • (2) Observe the solar spectrum and find some absorption lines. --- one of the powerful methods of Astronomy
  • Before you start ...

    Work time!

    Let's build your own spectrograph out of .... Enjoy!

    Observe the solar spectrum and find absorption lines.

    2. Introduction to Astronomy (Spectroscopy).

    3. Wrap-up.

    Possible career options at MSU ...