Along with imaging, spectroscopy is one of the most common and useful techniques in astronomy. While images provide information about the size, shape, and structure of matter in space, spectra provide key details such as temperature, composition, and motion.

With this series of videos we wanted to introduce spectra to the public in an approachable way, demonstrate their scientific value, and familiarize our audience with the types of science researchers are able to do using spectra. Spectra can look like scary graphs when you first encounter them, google search “astronomical spectra” if you want to see what I’m talking about, but the majority of folks just don’t know how to read them yet. I chose an art style that would feel vibrant and friendly while still being clear and accurate. I used a mixture of 2D and 3D techniques to illustrate the dimension and detail of these objects without feeling intimidating.