Spectral Atlas for Amateur Astronomers

Richard Walker spent his career in civil engineering, planning large projects such as power plants, dams and tunnels. Now retired, in the last ten years he has focused increasingly on stellar astronomy and on the indispensable key to this topic - spectroscopy. He undertook a large observing project to record and document the spectra of the most important astronomical objects, and chose to share this gathered information for the benefit of other amateurs worldwide.

• Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Directory of plates; 2. Selection, processing and presentation of the spectra; 3. Terms, definitions and abbreviations; 4. Overview and characteristics of stellar spectral classes; 5. Spectral class O; 6. Spectral class B; 7. Spectral class A; 8. Spectral class F; 9. Spectral class G; 10. Spectral class K; 11. Spectral class M; 12. Spectral sequence on the AGB; 13. M(e) stars on the AGB; 14. Spectral class S on the AGB; 15. Carbon stars on the AGB; 16. Post AGB stars and white dwarf; 17. Wolf Rayet stars; 18. LBV stars; 19. Be stars; 20. Be shell stars; 21. PMS protostars; 22. Peculiar CP-stars; 23. Spectroscopic binaries; 24. Novae; 25. Supernovae; 26. Extragalactic objects; 27. Star clusters; 28. Emission nebulae; 29. Reflectance spectra of Solar System bodies; 30. Telluric molecular absorption; 31. The night sky spectrum; 32. The night sky spectrum; 33. Terrestrial and calibration light sources.

'Spectroscopy is to astronomy what fingerprints are to forensic investigators. Walker has put together one of the most comprehensive references on the subject published to date … he has compiled an atlas of spectra from a variety of astronomical sources that can be used to classify almost any object observable with telescopes that are typically available to amateurs. This book nicely bridges the vast gap between what students will find in most textbooks and the references used by practitioners. Want to tell a white dwarf star from a red giant star? A nebula from a galaxy? Here's how! This richly illustrated atlas of spectra makes the identification process relatively easy. Moreover, the introduction to each chapter provides an accessible primer on the astrophysics behind the spectra. An extensive bibliography will lead the novice spectroscopist into as much detail as desired … This labor of love belongs on any serious amateur's desk - even professionals will find it quite useful.' T. D. Oswalt, Choice