Spectra

Begin by watching this excellent introduction to spectra in astronomy, Unweaving the rainbow from the European Space Agency.
One of the best and simplest ways to view a spectrum is with these awesome diffraction glasses. Check out my video of a Cell Phone Spectrometer that I created to capture a spectrum of Jupiter (and my Christmas lights).
Review 5.3 Spectroscopy in Astronomy to understand how spectrometers reveal the composition of astronomical objects through the analysis of their spectra.
Watch the video Three Types of Spectra, which provides a brief introduction to Kirchoff’s Laws of Radiation.
Watch the teacher video Color and Chemical Elements for a visual explanation of the connection between spectra and chemical elements. If you are interested, you can experiment with the Hydrogen Atom Simulator for yourself.
Read 5.4 The Structure of the Atom to explore the composition and structure of atoms, and then explore 5.5 Formation of Spectral Lines to discover how spectral lines are formed through emission and absorption processes, revealing the composition of astronomical sources.
Spectra are used in SO many parts of astronomy, that it is difficult to over-emphasize their importance. Watch the video Spectra in Astronomy to see how we can use spectra to answer several important questions about objects in deep space.
Read 5.6 The Doppler Effect to understand how the Doppler effect shifts spectral lines, allowing astronomers to measure the radial velocities of celestial objects.