The principle of atmospheric sounding using a limb imaging spectrometer is analyzed.Then, a prototype of grating dispersion type UV/Visible limb imaging spectrometer is designed and manufactured for the spectral ranges of 540-800 nm (1st order) and 270-400 nm (2nd order).The prototype consists of a broad-band refractive achromatic fore telescopic optical system and a modified Czerny-Turner spectral imaging system and records images from 540-800 nm by the visible filter and 270-400 nm by the UV filter.The volume of the prototype is about 450 mm×250 mm×200 mm, and the total mass is about 8 kg.A spectral experiment is carried out with the prototype in a laboratory and the analyzed result demonstrates that the real spectral resolution of the prototype is 1.3 nm, which approaches to the theoretical spectral resolution of 1.12 nm and satisfies the technique requirement of 1.4 nm.The prototype has advantages in little mass and high precision and is suitable for spatial remote sensing.