In Figs. 197 and 198 is shown another form of stellar spectroscope, that of the Cambridge (U.S.) observatory; it is the same in principle as that just described.
A direct vision star spectroscope is shown in Fig. [199].
Fig. 199.—Direct-vision Star Spectroscope. (Secchi.)
A new optical contrivance altogether has to be used when star spectra are observed.
The image of a star is a point, and if focussed on the slit will of course give only an extremely narrow spectrum; to obviate this a cylindrical lens is employed, which may be placed either before the slit or between the eyepiece and the eye. If placed before the slit, it draws out the image of the star to a fine line which just fits the slit, so that a sufficient portion of the slit is illuminated to give a spectrum wide enough to show the lines, or the slit may be dispensed with altogether.
In stellar observations, when the cylindrical lens is used in front of the slit, special precautions should be taken so as to secure that the position of the cylindrical lens and slit in which the spectrum appears brightest should be used. In any but the largest telescopes the spectra of the stars are so dim that unless great care is used the finer lines will be missed. A slit is not at all necessary for merely seeing the spectra; indeed they are best seen without one. If a slit be used, it should lie in a parallel and not in a meridian; under these circumstances slight variations in the rate of the clock are of no moment.
In this and in other observational matters it is good to know what to look for, and there are great generic differences between the spectra of the various stars. In Fig. [200] are represented spectra from the observations of Father Secchi. In the spectrum of Sirius, a representative of Type I., very few lines are represented, but the lines are very thick; and stars of this class are the easiest to observe.
Next we have the solar spectrum, which is a representative of Type II., one in which more lines are represented. In Type III. fluted spaces begin to appear; and in Type IV., which is that of the red stars, nothing but fluted spaces is visible, and this spectrum shows that there is something different at work in the atmosphere of those red stars to what there is in the simpler atmosphere of the first—of Type I. These observations were first attempted, and carried on with some success, by Fraunhofer, and we know with what skill and perseverance Mr. Huggins has continued the work in later years, even employing reference spectra and determining their chemical constitution as well as their class.
