Projects at the observatory - Stars and their Spectra

In this project students will be able to carry out small observations, even if the weather is cloudy or rainy. The project is split into two halves, each of which will enhance students' knowledge of how light can be separated into different colours making up its spectrum, and how elements leave their fingerprint in spectra. These fingerprints will be used to explore other stars much further away than our Sun.

In the first part of the project there will be a tour of the NTU telescope, during which, students will learn how the spectra they will be working with have been gathered. At the observatory, students will observe the spectra of the Sun and look at the Sun's fingerprint in its spectrum. These observations will then be compared to those obtained from a spectrum of a standard fluorescent lamp; this will enable students to experience both emission and absorption lines. Both of these types of lines are used to collect information in astronomy.

The second half of the project will include a presentation on how we can understand and learn from the spectra of stars. Students will also learn about how we can use spectra to measure the temperature of a star that is light-years away. Following this, those involved in the project will be given data obtained at the NTU observatory and be able to apply their new knowledge to determine the temperature of some stars.

The essence of this project is to engage with spectra, the key factor that turned astronomy into astrophysics. With spectra, it is possible to take knowledge gained in labs on Earth and apply it to all objects in the Universe, which underlines the universality of scientific laws.

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