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Measuring the Sun: Daytime Astronomy

Measuring the Sun: Daytime Astronomy. 2008 SEEC Workshop Mike McGlone Aerospace Education Specialist NASA-Johnson Space Center. Astronomy?. Study of all things above (outside) the Earth’s atmosphere. The Sun. What is the closest star to the Earth?. What is the brightest star in the sky?.

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Measuring the Sun: Daytime Astronomy

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  1. Measuring the Sun:Daytime Astronomy 2008 SEEC Workshop Mike McGlone Aerospace Education Specialist NASA-Johnson Space Center

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

  3. The Sun What is the closest star to the Earth? What is the brightest star in the sky?

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Measuring the Sun 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

  7. Build a Solar Camera

  8. Solar Camera Materials • File folder • Aluminum Foil • Graph paper (small grid) • Tape • Scissors • Sharp pencil • Ruler or Meter Stick

  9. Using the Solar Camera DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!

  10. Solar Camera Mathematics Diameter of Sun (H) Distance to Sun (D) Diameter of Image (h) Distance to Image (d) Beware of Units

  11. What did you or your group determine to be the diameter of the Sun? ACCEPTED VALUE 23,891,238 KM 100 EARTH RADII

  12. Other Instruments

  13. Sun-Earth Connection

  14. NASA Connect NASA CONNECT ™ is an annual series of FREE integrated math, science, and technology programs for students in grades 6–8. Each program has three components: a 30-minute television broadcast that can be viewed live, taped for later use, or viewed online. 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.

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

  16. Standards • Making measurements. • Fractions and ratios. • Unit conversions. • Seasons • Sun-Earth systems

  17. 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

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