[BAA-ebulletin 00945] Launch of the BAA Spectroscopy Database

[BAA electronic bulletins service]

To cater for the recent increase in spectroscopic capability and
interest within the amateur community the BAA is pleased to announce
the launch of an online spectroscopy database:
https://britastro.org/specdb/

The database is open for anyone to view and download spectra, while to
upload spectra you will require a dedicated login. Requests for logins
should be sent to the database manager (vssdbm at britastro.org) along
with a sample 1D FITS file, your observing location and equipment
details.

To be admitted to the database, spectra from slit spectroscopes are
normally expected to be dark frame and flat field corrected,
wavelength calibrated, instrument and atmospheric response corrected,
and to be submitted as 1D FITS files conforming to the BeSS standard.
Conformant spectra may be produced with ISIS and BASS analysis
software among others:
http://basebe.obspm.fr/basebe/Spec_spectres_BeSS_en.pdf

It is understood that for slitless spectrographs (diffraction
gratings) it may not be possible to meet the requirement for a flat
field and/or response correction but such spectra may be accepted if
they have been wavelength calibrated.

Although many spectra taken by amateurs are of stellar objects, the
database is designed to accept spectra of any astronomical object. Any
questions on how to use the database or create 1D FITS spectra should
be directed to the BAA Spectroscopy Forum:
https://britastro.org/forum/143

Andrew Wilson,
BAA Spectroscopy Database Manager