Evaluating Stellar Composition Through Analysis of Continuous and Absorption Spectra
Board Location: #32
Discipline: Physics
Subcategory: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Session: 2
Jasmine Freeman - Valdosta State University
It takes invincible concentration and perseverance to study the stars in the celestial emptiness. The goal of this research project is to determine the elemental makeup of six carefully chosen stars by dissecting their continuous spectra. These six stars were specifically chosen to represent a wide temperature range in anticipation of the emergence of distinctive spectra and spectral classes.This team has set out on a mission to capture the continuous spectrum using specialist equipment like a CCD camera, a 6-inch Celestron telescope, and color filters. The next stage of this project entails the addition of a spectrometer or spectroscope that is integrated with the telescope and carefully tracks the stars. This improvement should produce more complex and useful spectra.Calculating the constituent elements makes it easier to determine the stellar density and temperature as well as to understand the stellar makeup. Expectable dark gaps, also called absorption lines, in the absorption spectrum are signs of excited hydrogen and helium. It is expected that remnants of metallic lines may also be seen in some stars.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The material from the Southwestern Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. HRD-1817519.
Faculty Advisor: Martha Leake, mleake@valdosta.edu
Role: I gathered the observations, background information, and results.