# What is this optical device called? It measures the wavelenght of light.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-optical-device-called-it-measures-the-wavelenght-of-light/277007
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 28, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-optical-device-called-it-measures-the-wavelenght-of-light/277007 "2004-11-28T16:24:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-optical-device-called-it-measures-the-wavelenght-of-light/277007/1 "2004-11-28T16:24:23Z")
The thingy I’m looking for is a simple tube, (can be made out of carton, plastic or metal) about the size of a finger. It contains some sort of prism, that allows the user to determinde the wavelenght of a certain color.
Oliver Sacks once said he carried one with him at all times because he wanted to understand more about color and light.
It’s called something like …scope. If anyone could tell me the name of the device, so I and can start hunting for one on E-bay, I would be most grateful.
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### Author:  [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-optical-device-called-it-measures-the-wavelenght-of-light/277007/2 "2004-11-28T16:27:59Z")
How about “Spectroscope” or some derivation of that? or spectrometer
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### Author:  [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-optical-device-called-it-measures-the-wavelenght-of-light/277007/3 "2004-11-28T16:31:10Z")
google “spectroscope” and you’ll get everything you want to know
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### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-optical-device-called-it-measures-the-wavelenght-of-light/277007/4 "2004-11-28T16:35:26Z")
Spectroscope, that was it! I have racked my brain all day for that word. Thanks **Sigene**!
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### Author:  [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-optical-device-called-it-measures-the-wavelenght-of-light/277007/5 "2004-11-29T00:47:43Z")
While there is the [Spectroscope](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscope), there is also…
[Spectrometer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrometer) and [Spectrograph](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrograph).
All part of [Spectroscopy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopy).
Be seeing ya.