LISA Spectroscope (VIS)

A high-luminosity instrument

The LISA spectroscope is dedicated to the spectroscopy of faint objects such as comets, novae, supernovae, faint variable stars, the redshift of distant galaxies or quasars, or the confirmation of planetary nebulae. Its optical design has been specially studied for the observation of this type of object, with custom-made optics. Its calibration module (optional) enables easy calibration using an Argon/neon lamp, providing a large number of emission lines over the entire LISA spectral range. The same module is equipped with a tungsten lamp for flats.

A wide spectral range

With a resolving power of R = 1,000 with a 23 µm slit, its spectral range covers the entire visible range between 400 and 700 nm, and even extends into the near UV and near IR.

Example of a raw spectrum on BD+59 2829, a Be star of magnitude V=9.9 obtained with a LISA

Aperture

The LISA’s F/5 aperture makes it particularly well suited to faint objects, and it can be installed on telescopes or scopes natively f/5, but also on any type of Schmidt Cassegrain or Ritchey Chretien telescope using a focal reducer to bring the native focal length of this type of telescope, generally f/10 or f/8, down to a focal length close to 5.

Guiding system

Thanks to its mirror slit, the Lisa accurately positions and holds the target in the slit. A guiding camera (not supplied) enables the telescope’s movements to be controlled (autoguiding), ensuring optimum observation.

Field of the LISA autoguider with the slit positioned vertically, on a Seyfert galaxy

Interchangeable slit

The interchangeable slit supplied as standard (15-19-23-35µm) makes it possible to adapt the instrument to any observational situation, giving priority to resolution or brightness if required. Other slits are also available as options (wide slits, photometric slits), to further extend the possibilities.

Mechanical interfaces

The LISA is supplied as standard with a 2″ nosepiece. The nosepiece can be removed to access an T-mount female thread (M42x0.75mm thread). For mounting on a classic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (2″ external thread), you’ll need the BA0027 variable T-adapter.

The interface with the acquisition camera is also a T-mount thread (M42x0.75mm) with a 54.9 mm backfocus, while the guiding camera port is C-mount with a 17.5 mm backfocus.

For ATIK cameras, you need a 13mm long ring (13mm mechanical backfocus), supplied with the LISA. We offer a wide choice of adapter rings in our accessories catalog.

Going even further with LISA

In addition to the astrophysical knowledge that LISA can provide, it is also a tool for collaboration between amateur and professional astronomers: study of nova, supernova, comets, symbiotic stars, confirmation of planetary nebulae… Numerous scientific publications have been produced on the basis of LISA observations. like this one. Other publications or first spectra are regularly produced with a LISA. For instance:
– ATEL Observation Ha in SS433
– Optical Spectroscopy of Classical Nova ASASSN-16ig (Nova Sgr 2016 no. 2)
– Monitoring of the slow classical nova Sct 2017

LISA spectrum of a Seyfert galaxy (z=0.061) of magnitude V=15.2

The support of a large community

LISA is used all over the world, and you can find many examples of its use and advice on the spectro-L discussion list or on the spectroscopy forum: ARAS

• Collimator F=130mm F/5
• High efficiency thanks to internal focus reducer
• Resolution power R ~1000 with a 23 µm slit
• Grating 300 tr/mm blazed à 500nm
• Visible domain (400-700nm)
• Slit 15/19/23/35µm
• Slit length : 4 mm
• Weight: 1.4 kg (w/o caméra)
• Telescope Interface T-mount (M42*0.75), backfocus 41mm
• Science camera interface, T mount, M42*0.75, backfocus 54.9 mm
• Guiding camera interface, C-mount, backfocus 17.5 mm

• LISA Spectroscope
• Interchangeable slit : 15, 19, 23, 35μm
• Adapter for 13mm backfocus camera

• User manual.
• Dimensions
• Live observations with a LISA (online workshop)

• Calculating the redshift of distant galaxies and quasars
• Confirmation of Planetary Nebula candidates
• Spectra of faint Be stars
• Studies of star spectral classes
• Spectra of faint objects (Novae, Supernovae, Comets)

Retour d’expérience d’utilisateurs :

• First light with a LISA by Christian: Buil:http://astrosurf.com/buil/lisa3/test.htm
• First lights with a LISA by François Teyssier: http://www.astronomie-amateur.fr/Lisa.html
• First steps with a LISA (David Boyd): http://www.britastro.org/vss/First%20steps%20in%20Spectroscopy.pdf
• Confirmations of planetary nebulae (O. Garde – P. Le Dû) :

Report on mission to St-Véran observatory : http://o.garde.free.fr/RapportMissionCALAI-2016BD.pdf Mission report to C2PU Calern : http://o.garde.free.fr/RapportMissionCalern2017.pdf

• Observation with a LISA by Christian Buil: http://astrosurf.com/buil/lisa6/obs.htm
• A LISA on the T1M at Pic du Midi: http://astrosurf.com/buil/lisa4/pic_du_midi.htm
• Comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd): http://astrosurf.com/buil/garradd/obs.htm
• Herbig Ae/Be Z CMa (several spectrographs): http://astrosurf.com/aras/surveys/prestars/zcma/zcma.html
• Symbiothic star V407 Cyg: ARAS: http://astrosurf.com/aras/V407Cyg/v407cyg.htm

F. Teyssier: http://www.astronomie-amateur.fr/feuilles/Spectroscopie/SyS/V407%20Cyg.html

• Symbiothique star CI Cyg : ARAS: http://www.astrosurf.com/aras/CICyg/CI_Cyg.html

C. Buil: http://astrosurf.com/buil/cicyg/obs.htm

F. Teyssier article: http://www.astronomie-amateur.fr/Documents%20Spectro/ej143.pdf

• Very short-term temporal evolution of the cataclysmic variable DQ Her (nova Herculis 1934): http://astrosurf.com/buil/forum/dqher_poster.png
• Recurrent Nova T pyxidis (several spectrographs): http://astrosurf.com/aras/surveys/novae/tpyx/tpyx.htm
• Supernovae 2011: http://astrosurf.com/buil/supernovae/2011/obs.htm
• SN2011dh in M51 (several spectrographes): http://astrosurf.com/aras/surveys/supernovae/sn2011dh/obs.htm
• NGC7331: http://astrosurf.com/buil/forum/ngc7331_poster.png
• A somewhat subtle observation by Christian Buil and Valérie Desnoux, but also a bit mythical, which highlights the rotation of a galaxy on itself (NGC 7331). The power and good shape of the T60 (Pic du Midi) combined with the LISA spectroscope make an exceptional pair.
• Quintet of Stephan: http://astrosurf.com/buil/forum/stephan_poster.png
• Spectroscopic observations of Nova Delphini 2013 [= V339 Delphini], David Boyd, Journal of British Astronomical Association 123, 5, 2013, p 302 : http://www.britastro.org/vss/Spectral%20evolution%20of%20Nova%20Delphini%202013%20(V339%20Del).pdf

• Demetra Software