A spectrometer is an instrument used to measure the properties of light, including its intensity, wavelength, and polarization. Synonyms for spectrometer include spectroscope, spectrograph, and monochromator. A spectroscope is a type of spectrometer that analyzes electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, to determine the composition of a sample. A spectrograph is similar to a spectroscope but is typically used to analyze the light emitted by stars or other celestial objects. A monochromator is a type of spectrometer that isolates a narrow range of wavelengths from a broader spectrum of light. Regardless of their specific type, spectrometers are critical tools for a wide range of scientific applications in fields such as chemistry, physics, and astronomy.