Solar spectrum

Solar spectrum.

High Resolution Solar Spectrum

A high resolution version of the spectrum of our Sun, this image was created from a digital atlas observed with the Fourier Transform Spectrometer at the McMath-Pierce Solar Facility at Kitt Peak National Observatory, near Tucson, Arizona (`Solar Flux Atlas from 296 to 1300 nm‘ by Robert L. Kurucz, Ingemar Furenlid, James Brault, and Larry Testerman: National Solar Observatory Atlas No. 1, June 1984.).

The images shown here were created to mimic an echelle spectrum, with wavelength increasing from left to right along each strip, and from bottom to top. Each of the 50 slices covers 60 angstroms, for a complete spectrum across the visual range from 4000 to 7000 angstroms.

The Sun is a G2 star, and this image covers the same wavelength range in the same format as the spectrum of Procyon, type F5, and the spectrum of Arcturus, type K1 (or K2). Note: NSO/Kitt Peak FTS data used here were produced by NSF/NOAO. (Note for interested users: because this was made from digital data, we can create any size or shape on request, but please give us plenty of time. The images here have the correct aspect ratio for a 35mm slide. We do however have a square version available immediately.)

Minimum credit line: N.A.Sharp, NOAO/NSO/Kitt Peak FTS/AURA/NSF (for details see Conditions of Use)

Leave a Reply