Scientific spectroscopy from a light polluted backyard

Session details: Posters, 2013-03-29 10:18:00

Abstract

Unlike visual observing and astrophotography, which are greatly limited by light pollution, it possible to do scientifically valuable spectroscopy from close to the centre of a large city. Since his rural observatory was put out of action by the deadly 2009 Victorian bushfires the author has successfully cooperated with international professional astronomers on a number of high-resolution spectroscopy based campaigns from his home near Melbourne’s CBD. His poster will attempt to show what has been achieved from his urban courtyard with examples of recent and on-going work on eta Car, delta Sco, zeta Pup and various Be stars, as well as the spectroscopes and other equipment used.

Biography

Bernard Heathcote has been interested in astronomy since childhood but only since retiring from a constantly moving international engineering career, about twenty years ago, was he able to become an observing amateur. His interest was always scientific, initially doing BVRI photometry for a few years, then slowly over the last fifteen years becoming more involved with the greater demands required by high resolution spectroscopy. Now, from urban Melbourne, all his available telescope time is devoted to trying to meet the needs of the pros, who are never able to get sufficient time on the big scopes, especially at southern hemisphere observatories.