Commissioning an Inexpensive Off-the-shelf Spectrograph for Radial-Velocity Studies

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how to assemble a cost-effective, off-the-shelf spectrograph suitable for precise radial velocity measurements, enabling studies of binary stars, stellar properties, and potentially exoplanets.

Contribution

It introduces a practical setup for an inexpensive spectrograph with sufficient stability and resolution for astrophysical radial velocity applications.

Findings

Spectrograph stability and resolution are adequate for binary star radial velocities.

Potential to detect some exoplanets using the setup.

Accessible method for observatories with limited budgets.

Abstract

We present a way to set up an inexpensive out of the shelf spectrograph at a local observatory. Stability and resolution of the spectrograph are high enough for radial velocity determination of binary stars or determination of stellar characteristics. Even some exoplanets might be detectable via the radial velocity method.