We have built a Shectman-type photon-counting spectrometer based on the Latham-Geary “Z-Machine” design. The system is innovative in that the entire system rides on the telescope and communicates to the outside world via standard serial lines. Microprocessor architecture, memory controllers and new interconnect and packaging technologies have been employed. The system is portable and can be easily connected to almost any computer. It is suitable for calibrated spectrophotometry on a smaller telescope as well as for conventional spectroscopy.

Approximately 375 classification spectra of 130 Southern Hemisphere eclipsing binary stars were obtained between 1978 and 1982 at Mt. John University Observatory, New Zealand using the 0.6 meter reflector, and at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Chile using the 0.4, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.0 meter telescopes. The spectra have been classified by one of us (GWW) using a grid of standards obtained on the various spectrographs at each of the observatories. Since many of the spectra were taken during primary and secondary minima, it has been possible in many cases to classify separately each component in the binaries.

Our meeting has been unusual in that we have covered so many fields of present-day astronomy and astrophysics. The common link has been the potential of small telescopes for making substantial advances in our knowledge of the observable universe. Attention has been focussed not just on those programmes which can be done best with small telescopes but we have also highlighted many which can only be done with small telescopes.