The Solar-Stellar Spectrograph
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The Solar-Stellar Spectrograph (SSS) is a project dedicated to long-term observations of the Sun and Sun-like stars. Using a unique fiber optic feed, we are able to observe both the brilliant Sun and the faint stars with the same instrument, directly comparing the Sun's variations to those of its nearest cousins. With these observations, we hope to better understand the current and historical brightness variations of the Sun, the nature and variety of stellar activity in general, and the likely extent to which long-term solar variations might contribute to climate forcing here on Earth. This Web site incorporates both technical material for researchers as well as non-technical descriptions and articles for interested readers as part of our outreach efforts.
2008 Jul 31
Our new cameras are installed and we have begun acquiring data again. Hooray!
2008 Feb 01
Online presentation and dissemination of the results of the project, at both technical and layman levels, is one of the goals for our current grant cycle. This developing site is intended to fill that purpose. We hope the site is of use to professionals, amateurs, and the public alike.
2008 Jan 15
We are pleased to acknowledge the National Science Foundation's renewed support for the SSS project. This will enable us to continue our observations through early 2011, and will allow us to replace the aging camera, CCD, and data acquisition system. In the new grant cycle, we will focus heavily on observations of the rise of solar cycle 24, as well as continued frequent observations of a select set of close solar analogs.
The galaxy and planetary folks are always publishing gorgeous pictures, while we just produce spectra and flux-color diagrams, which from a PR standpoint are real yawners. So we decided to decorate our front page with a few cool images, just to say we could.
"The Coffin"
The SSS is enclosed in a big triangular case about five feet on a side. The platform with all the optics is isolated from the case to minimize vibrations, and the whole thing is covered by a heavy lid. We affectionately call it "the coffin." The picture at right shows it as it looked before commissioning (and the interior is mostly unchanged today). I have labeled a number of the essential components. Note the two spectrograph systems: the "blue" HK spectrograph is on the left side, and the "red" echelle is on the right. We will be replacing the detectors (and everything else downstream of the cameras) under our new research grant.
Lake Mary at sunset
Our observing station is at an elevation of 7,260' about 10 miles SE of Flagstaff. This picture was taken at sunset from the catwalk of the dome (visible in the overview section above) on November 13, 2005. The red sky at night was not, in this case, an observer's delight; it eventually clouded up and I went home early. But I was glad I happened to have my camera with me!
[ Back to my home page | Email me: jch [at] lowell [dot] edu ]
The SSS is publicly funded. Unless explicitly noted otherwise, everything on this site is in the public domain.
If you use or quote our results or images, we appreciate an acknowledgment.
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