Astro 11 Laboratory Exercise - Spectra - The Classification...

A Manual to Accompany Software for
the Introductory Astronomy Lab Exercise
Document SUG 6: Version 1
Department of Physics
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Telephone: [phone]
email: [email protected]
Contemporary Laboratory
Experiences in Astronomy
The Classification of Stellar Spectra
Software Users’ Guide

Contents
I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3
I-1. Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
I-2. Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................ 3
II. System Requirements .................................................................................................................... 3
II-1. Recommendation ................................................................................................................................................... 3
III. Installation and Operation .......................................................................................................... 3
IV. Files Included With Exercise ...................................................................................................... 3
IV-1. Files in CLEA_SPE.ZIP ...................................................................................................................................... 4
IV-2. Files in JSPECTRA.ZIP ...................................................................................................................................... 5
IV-3. Files Generated During Execution ....................................................................................................................... 5
IV-3.1. Naming .CSP and .CSV Files .................................................................................................................... 6
V. User Options .................................................................................................................................. 6
V-1. Parameters and Selectable Options ....................................................................................................................... 7
V-1.1. Switches and Parameters ............................................................................................................................. 7
V-1.2. File Name Options ...................................................................................................................................... 8
V-1.3. Telescope Parameters .................................................................................................................................. 9
V-2. Data Files ............................................................................................................................................................ 10
V-2.1. Spectral Atlases ......................................................................................................................................... 10
V-2.1.1. The Atlas List .................................................................................................................................. 10
V-2.1.2. Atlas Index Files .............................................................................................................................. 11
V-2.2. Star Fields .................................................................................................................................................. 11
V-2.2.1. The Star Field List .......................................................................................................................... 12
V-2.2.2. Star Field Data Files ....................................................................................................................... 13
V-2.2.3. The Spectrum Index File ................................................................................................................. 13
V-2.2.4. The CLEA Spectral Type Code ...................................................................................................... 14
V-2.3. List of Unknowns for Classification ......................................................................................................... 15
V-2.4. Data Format for Spectra ............................................................................................................................ 15
V-3. Using a Spreadsheet Program ............................................................................................................................. 16
V-4. Revised CLEA Help Facility ............................................................................................................................... 16
V-4.1. General Help Facility ................................................................................................................................ 16
V-4.1.1. The Help Index File ........................................................................................................................ 16
V-4.1.1.1. Topic Grouping and Indentation ....................................................................................... 17
V-4.1.2. Help Text Files ................................................................................................................................ 17
V-4.2. The Spectral Line List/Help Facility ......................................................................................................... 17
V-4.2.1. The Line List File ........................................................................................................................... 17
V-4.2.2. The Line Help File ................................................................................................................... 18
VI. Astronomical Data, Models and Algorithms .......................................................................... 18
VI-1. The Jacoby Spectral Library .............................................................................................................................. 18
VI-2. Integration of Spectra (Magnitudes, Telescopes and Noise) .............................................................................. 18
VI-2.1 Calculating the Scope Factors .................................................................................................................. 20
VI-3. “Photo” Displays ................................................................................................................................................ 20
VI-4. Measuring Equivalent Widths ............................................................................................................................ 20
References .......................................................................................................................................... 21

Version 1.0
P
AGE
3
I. Introduction
I-1. Purpose
This document provides specific technical information for users of the CLEA software module Classification of Stellar
Spectra . Included are discussions of hardware and operating system requirements (Section II); software installation and
operation (Section III); files associated with the exercise (Section IV); user options and file formats for possible user
modifications (Section V); and astronomical data, models and algorithms employed in the exercise (Section VI). The
material in this guide is intended for use by the instructor and by other personnel involved in installing and configuring
the exercise software and PC hardware. It is not intended for distribution to the students. (The word user when it appears
herein should be interpreted as i nstructor , and not s tudent .)
Readers of this document are assumed to have available the General Users’ Guide to CLEA Windows Software
(SUG) , which contains technical information that applies to all CLEA Windows software. Information contained therein
is generally not repeated here.
I-2. Acknowledgments
Development of CLEA exercises and materials, including this guide, is supported in part by the National Science
Foundation (Grants USE 9155927 and USE 9354514) and by Gettysburg College
.