Measuring the Sun:Daytime Astronomy

2008 SEEC Workshop

Mike McGloneAerospace Education Specialist

NASA-Johnson Space Center

Astronomy?

Study of all things above (outside) the Earth’s atmosphere.

What is the closest star to the Earth?

What is the brightest star in the sky?

The Sun

Sun Facts•Earth-Sun Distance: 150,000,000 kilometers (93,000,000 miles) = 1 A.U. (Astronomical Unit)

•Mass: Sun contains 99%+ of the solar system mass.

•1.9x10^30kg=330,000 Earth masses

More Sun Facts•Rotation: ~27 days

•Differential

•Solar Cycles: 11 years, 22 years

•Solar luminosity (energy output of the Sun) = 3.846 10^33 erg/s

•Photosphere ‘Surface’ temperature = 5770 K = 10,400 ºF

What solar observations and/or measurements can we (our students) gather?

Location of sunrise/sunset. (degrees)

Sun Angle

Solar Diameter

Solar Rotation

Sun Intensity

Sunspots

Influence on Earth’s Magnetosphere

Measuring the Sun

Build a Solar Camera

Solar Camera Materials

•File folder

•Aluminum Foil

•Graph paper (small grid)

•Tape

•Scissors

•Sharp pencil

•Ruler or Meter Stick

Using the Solar Camera

DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!

DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!

DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!

Solar Camera Mathematics

Diameter of Sun (H) Distance to Sun (D)

Diameter of Image (h) Distance to Image (d)

Beware of Units

What did you or your group determine to be

the diameter of the Sun?

ACCEPTED VALUE

23,891,238 KM

100 EARTH RADII

Other Instruments

Sun-Earth Connection

NASA ConnectNASA CONNECT ™ is an annual series of FREE

integrated math, science, and technology programs for students in grades 6–8. Each program has three components:

(1)a 30-minute television broadcast that can be viewed live, taped for later use, or viewed online.

(2)an educator guide describing a hands-on activity, and

(3) an interactive web activity that provides educators an opportunity to use technology in the classroom setting.

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Student Observation Network

http://son.nasa.gov

Standards

•Making measurements.

•Fractions and ratios.

•Unit conversions.

•Seasons

•Sun-Earth systems

Resources

•Solar Physics (Marshall Space Flight Center): http://science.nasa.gov/ssl/pad/solar/default.htm

•Space Weather: http://www.spaceweather.com

•Solar and Heliospheric Observatory: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/

•Student Observation Network: http://son.nasa.gov

•Living with a Star: http://stargazers.gsfc.nasa.gov/resources/products.htm

•Sun-Earth Connection: http://sec.gsfc.nasa.gov

• Solar-B Mission EPO: http://www.chabotspace.org/vsc/solar/default.asp