High-Quality Astronomical Images and Spectra with the Boston University Solar Telescope

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The Boston University Solar Telescope has been used for over ten years to allow students to observe sunspots, flares, and high-resolution optical spectra of the sun. New technology allows the renovation of this telescope with CCD detectors and cameras, a new optical bench and driving motor, and personal- computer based driving, recording, and plotting system. With a refurbished telescope, students can make, record, and take away hard copies of observations of sunspots, chromospheric emission, flares, and spectra. The spectral resolution is high enough to see first-hand the doppler shifts of the Fraunhofer lines, at the eastern and western limbs, relative to reference lines arising in Earth's atmosphere. Measurements of the doppler shifts plus angular motions of sunspots allow students to measure the distance to the Sun. Observations of the phases and angular size changes of Venus with the telescope (which can be done in the daytime since Venus is so bright) then allow a determination of the size of its orbit as well. Setting the spectral resolution to a lower level allows first-hand spectroscopy of stars, planets, and the moon.