Before reviewing the Rainbow Optics Spectroscope, since most amateur astronomers are novice to this very interesting, but seldom explored frontier of astronomy, I feel obligated to provide a few basics of what a spectroscope does, something about spectroscopy, a few notes about the different types and designs of instruments, as well as some comments on expectations by the user of any spectroscope.
All spectral instruments do basically one thing.
In the visible, white light will be dispersed into the colors Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Violet. The visible colors range in wavelength from 4000 to 7000 Angstroms. Spectra and Spectroscopy All gases when heated to high temperatures will give off light at particular wavelengths characteristic to the number of electrons in the atomic orbits of the material. Every element, as well as ion or molecule, has its own 'finger-print'. The device used to separate the varying wavelengths to detect these chemical and physical properties is known as a spectral instrument.