Spectral Classification of Stars

These iterations of the Types of Stars activity from the original SDSS education website. Students organize and classify series of stellar spectra, including estimating the strength of the Hydrogen lines.

• "SDSS Types of Stars.doc" is the most faithful reproduction of the original activity, and refers students to view spectra online on the SDSS website (thanks to Vince Santo-Pietro of Shorecrest High School!).

• "Spectra Classification of Stars.doc" is completely self-contained; it includes explanation, spectra, and a zoomed-in look at hydrogen lines with an overlay of squares for estimating their area. Includes a detailed section on the formation of the Balmer lines.

• "Types of Stars Lab.doc" is a rewrite that excludes explanation and relies on the accompanying SDSS Stellar Spectra documents (below). (Thanks to Mark Burbank of Mountlake Terrace High School! )

• "Stellar Spectra Lab-BFS style.doc" also relies on SDSS Stellar Spectra and is rewritten as a Backwards-Faded-Scaffolding style lab.

• "SDSS Stellar Spectrum Examples", demonstrate features of the spectra and are for use in the classroom.

Spectra for use with the labs:

• SDSS Stellar Spectra 1-7: seven spectra, one for each spectral type

• SDSS Stellar Spectra Panels 1-14: a collection of 14 stellar spectra