Table of Contents

Introduction.- The Digital Spectrohelioscope.- The Sun’s Spectrum.- Examples of Solar Imaging at Various Wavelengths.- How to Build Your Spectroheliograph (SHG).- Examples of Amateur Instruments and Their Results.- Processing Software.- Doppler and Other Effects.- Analyzing the Results.- Pre-Digital Solutions.- Future Developments.- Appendices.- Index.

About the Author

An experienced amateur astronomer, Ken Harrison was born in Scotland where he trained as a mechanical engineer.  He has been designing and building telescopes since the early 1960’s and has built a series of spectroscopes for use on medium-sized amateur telescopes.  He was Section Director of the Astronomical Society of Victoria, Australia Astrophotographic Section for ten years and past president of the Society.   Ken’s university thesis (and his first publication) was Design and Construction of the Isaac Newton 98-inch Telescope (Strathclyde University, 1970); since then he has published articles on optical design including Blink Comparison,  (BAA Journal Vol 87, p 94) and Method of Radially Supporting Large Mirrors (Vol 87, p 154).  He has made many contributions to the Astronomical Society of Victoria newsletter and was for three years the Editor of the ‘N’Daba’ newsletter of the Natal Centre, Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. He is the author of "Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs" (Springer, 2011) and "Grating Spectroscopes and How to Use Them" (Springer, 2012).

Reviews

“This book should be required reading for anyone thinking of embarking on the construction of one of these instruments, and the first half makes a good primer for anyone embarking on less-sophisticated solar observation.” (Mike Rushton, The Observatory, Vol. 137 (1260), October, 2017)“This book, which is definitely aimed at experienced astronomy buffs, provides an argument for an alternative way to select out colors–something that has become far more practical with the advent of digital cameras. … There is a significant amount of theory and history presented, most of which can be followed by individuals familiar with calculus-based university physics. … Summing Up: Recommended. Professionals and practitioners only.” (D. J. Van Domelen, Choice, Vol. 54 (3), November, 2016)