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  Funding to create this site, and to purchase and commission our new instruments, was provided by a NASA New York Space Grant, and a generous donation from John A. Huberty.  
   
 

Research Projects

Building an Online Database of Bright Stellar Spectra
Melissa Cravey(2002, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Vanessa Lauburg (2002, University of Missouri-Saint Louis)
Manit Limlamai (2004, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

ABSTRACT: The objective of this project is to create a publicly accessible digital database of bright stellar spectra through the Hirsch Observatory at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. There are approximately one hundred fifty thousand bright stars and are accessible using the telescope in Rensselaer's Hirsch Observatory. We are aiming to complete between ten and a hundred stars this summer, concentrating on the bluer, spectral type "A" stars, which are known to have classification problems in the standard MK system. The necessary equipment to complete this project has been procured. Calibrating the instru-ments, including an SBIG ST-8E CCD camera, and an SBIG high-resolution spectrograph, is part of the activities to be completed during the summer. All obtained data will be made accessible over the WWW from a dedicated computer in the observatory dome.