Spectroscopy of Supernovae

Topic starter

Jul 22, 2023 · Edited: Jul 24, 2023

In 2022 and 2023, we were fortunate to be able to photograph supernovae in the neighborhood, even with amateur telescopes.

SN2022hrs was a type Ia supernova, SN2023ixfa type II. The two types can be distinguished spectroscopically even with simple tools. While type Ia supernovae show clearly recognizable bands, the spectra of type II supernovae are more variable. Sometimes no absorption bands can be resolved at all. This was the case with SN2023ixf.

Have any of you taken spectra of this or other supernovae?
Which technique do you use?
Could anyone make out structures in the spectrum of SN2023ixf?

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Alan Brunelle

Jul 23, 2023

Hi Olaf,

I will be watching this for answers of interest. Do you know of any sites that concentrate on astrospectroscopy? In particular, for those amateurs interested and post conversations on such matters?

Thanks,
Alan

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Olaf Fritsche

Topic starter

Jul 24, 2023

Hi Alan,

For amateurs and beginners I like best the pages of RSpec Real Time Spectroscopy. I record my spectra with their Star Analyzer SA-100, and there are very good explanatory videos on how to use the hardware and how to evaluate the data with the software.

RSpec also runs a forum on spectroscopy. Some participants have also posted spectra of supernova SN2023ixf at various times, and you can actually see the change in absorption bands.

On RSpec's links page you can also find references to websites, blogs and books with more info for beginners to semi-professionals.

At Astrobin, spectroscopy is a very small subfield so far. But it is a very interesting discipline, which offers amazing insights into the life of the stars even with simple means.

CS
Olaf

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David Moore

Jul 28, 2023

Try The Norman Lockyer Observatory in the UK

The observatory is a Sidmouth.
http://normanlockyer.com/

They go back to the times when spectrographs were made with photographic plates. They had images inside one of the domes of spectrographs of stars showing the various elements.

The reason this site at Sidmouth was set up was for spectral analysis of stars. I visited last evening and it is still one focus of the group that meet there. This web site associated with them has a spectrophotography section:-
http://www.astroimagingsouthwest.com/f32-Spectroscopy-Section.html

Alan Brunelle

Jul 28, 2023

Olaf Fritsche:
Hi Alan,

For amateurs and beginners I like best the pages of RSpec Real Time Spectroscopy. I record my spectra with their Star Analyzer SA-100, and there are very good explanatory videos on how to use the hardware and how to evaluate the data with the software.

RSpec also runs a forum on spectroscopy. Some participants have also posted spectra of supernova SN2023ixf at various times, and you can actually see the change in absorption bands.

Olaf,

Thanks for the very useful information. I will be bookmarking those sites.

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Alan Brunelle

Jul 28, 2023

David Moore:
Try The Norman Lockyer Observatory in the UK

The observatory is a Sidmouth.
http://normanlockyer.com/

They go back to the times when spectrographs were made with photographic plates. They had images inside one of the domes of spectrographs of stars showing the various elements.

The reason this site at Sidmouth was set up was for spectral analysis of stars. I visited last evening and it is still one focus of the group that meet there. This web site associated with them has a spectrophotography section:-
http://www.astroimagingsouthwest.com/f32-Spectroscopy-Section.html

Thanks David! I very much appreciate the resources you guys are providing!

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