Page 12 - analysis-and-interpretation-of-astronomical-sp

Analysis and Interpretation of Astronomical Spectra 12

right side, also outside of the diagram. Main causes for this error are the spectral selectivity

of the CCD chip and the IR filter in the compact camera, pretending that all the peaks would
be located within the diagram. Here is also clearly visible, that the absorption lines (sect.
5.2) are quasi "imprinted" on the continuum profile, similar to the modulation on a carrier
wave. These lines carry the information about the object, the course of the continuum re-
veals only the temperature of the radiator. The profile of Betelgeuse shows impressively,
that the spectra of cool stars are dominated by broad molecular titanium oxide (TiO) bands

(sect. 5.4). The example also shows the dramatic influence of the spectral characteristics of
the camera. In the blue wavelength range, the sensitivity of most cameras drops quickly.
Astronomical cameras usually have easy removable/upgradable IR filters, exclusively used
for the astrophotography and without them spectra can be recorded well in to the IR range.