Putting the New Spectrometer to Work (Part II)

Having shown the capability of the home-built medium resolution (R=λ/Δλ=3000) f/3.5 spectrometer on the 18inch Newtonian (SAS 2012), we collaborated on three science observation projects. Project 1 investigated the spectacular Doppler signal of the mag 6 pulsating star BWVul (velocities vary by >200km/sec in a 4.8 hr period), Project 2 searched for a velocity variationl in a faint (mag 9) suspected spectroscopic binary (SAO186171 = Zug 1 in NGC6520) which reaches barely 25deg above the southern horizon, while Project 3 observed SigOriE, a mag 6 apparent Be star with 1.2 day period where the problem was to measure the rapidly changing amplitude and shape of the Ha line to support modeling. Each project presented unique observational and analytic challenges which will be discussed. The projects have required close Pro-Am collaboration, with the high point at Odell's hilltop house happily arguing about observing results.