'astrospectral' originates from Modern English, combining the prefix 'astro-' (from Greek 'astron' meaning 'star') with 'spectral' (from Latin/Modern use of 'spectrum' meaning 'appearance' or 'range of values').

'astrospectral' was coined in late 20th century English by combining the productive prefix 'astro-' (used in scientific terms relating to stars/space) with the adjective 'spectral' (relating to spectra), forming a technical adjective used in astronomical spectroscopy.

Initially it literally combined the ideas of 'star' + 'spectrum', and over time it has been used broadly to mean 'relating to the spectra of astronomical objects' rather than exclusively 'star spectra'.