History of Astronomical Spectroscopy

Astronomical spectroscopy played a crucial role in the elucidation of the physics of stellar atmospheres. This section goes into a detailed historical review of various objects and elements discovered spectroscopically in outer space, such as the supposedly 'new' elements nebulium and coronium. Emphasis is placed on comparing historical precedents with current debates concerning laser stars. It is concluded that some astronomical puzzles take decades to solve after many false trails and bogus theories.

REFERENCES

  1. Color plots of the optical spectra of the elements.
  2. Astronomical Spectra on the net
  3. Scientific Biographies and Quotations
  4. History of Astronomy
  5. Hearnshaw,J.B.: 1986, The Analysis of Starlight. One hundred and fifty years of astronomical spectroscopy, Cambridge Univ. Press. ISBN 0 521 25548 1
  6. Emerson,D.: 1996, Interpreting Astronomical Spectra, John Wiley and Sons. ,ISBN 0 471 94176 X
  7. A timeline of Stellar Astronomy
  8. Huggins quote is from a footnote in The Scientific Papers of Sir William Huggins : 1909, (Publications of Sir Wm Huggins Observatory, vol II), W.Wesley and Son.

Huggins : 'One important object of this original spectroscopic investigation of the light of the stars and other celestial bodies, namely to discover whether the same chemical elements as those of our earth are present throughout the universe, was most satisfactorily settled in the affirmative; a common chemistry, it was shown, exists throughout the universe.'
- Sir William Huggins

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