A prototype of ultraviolet (UV)/visible limb imaging spectrometer is designed and developed to satisfy the urgent requirements of space atmospheric remote sensing. The working waveband are 560～780 nm and 280～390 nm, using first order and second order diffraction of grating separately. The prototype is composed of an off-axis parabolic telescope and modified Czerny-Turner spectrometer. The root mean square(RMS) radius of the disc of confusion is less than 10 μm over the working waveband, and the image quality is obtained satisfactorily. The mass of prototype is 10 kg, the volume is 500 mm×350 mm×200 mm, the spatial resolution is 0.44 mrad, the spectral resolution is 1.52 nm, and all the requirements are satisfied. The field sounding experiment is implemented using the prototype of limb imaging spectrometer. The spectral data measured are compared with spectral data, which indicate that the prototype of limb imaging spectrometer has good function and performance, and satisfies the application requirements of sounding of atmospheric trace gas.