This paper describes a low light level, low resolution astronomical CCD (Charge Coupled Device) spectrometer useful in the spectral range 5000–9000 A˚. The instrument has a second CCD channel for direct broad‐band photometry of the region around the entrance slit. Both applications benefit from the high quantum efficiency, stability, dynamic range and linearity intrinsic to CCD’s. The detectors are cooled to 130 K which eliminates dark current and permits exposure times long enough to overcome the readout noise of ±30 electrons. At low spectral resolution the instrument has a signal‐to‐noise ratio which approaches the photon counting noise limit. The overall average quantum efficiency during observations is 1.3% between 5500 and 9000 A˚.