Measuring the Sun: Daytime Astronomy

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Measuring the SunDaytime Astronomy

• 2008 SEEC Workshop
• Mike McGlone
• Aerospace Education Specialist
• NASA-Johnson Space Center

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Astronomy?
Study of all things above (outside) the Earths
atmosphere.
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What is the closest star to the Earth?
What is the brightest star in the sky?
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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.
• 1.9x1030kg330,000 Earth masses

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More Sun Facts

• Rotation 27 days
• Differential
• Solar Cycles 11 years, 22 years
• Solar luminosity (energy output of the Sun)
  3.846 1033 erg/s
• Photosphere Surface temperature 5770 K
  10,400 ºF

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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 Earths
Magnetosphere
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Build a Solar Camera
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Solar Camera Materials

• File folder
• Aluminum Foil
• Graph paper (small grid)
• Tape
• Scissors
• Sharp pencil
• Ruler or Meter Stick

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Using the Solar Camera
DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!DO NOT LOOK AT THE
SUN!DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!
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Solar Camera Mathematics
Diameter of Sun (H) Distance to Sun
(D) Diameter of Image (h) Distance to Image (d)
Beware of Units
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What did you or your group determine to be the
diameter of the Sun?
ACCEPTED VALUE 23,891,238 KM 100 EARTH RADII
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Other Instruments
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Sun-Earth Connection
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NASA Connect

• NASA CONNECT is an annual series of FREE
  integrated math, science, and technology programs
  for students in grades 68. 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.

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Student Observation Network
http//son.nasa.gov
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Standards

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

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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.go
  v/resources/products.htm
• Sun-Earth Connection http//sec.gsfc.nasa.gov
• Solar-B Mission EPO http//www.chabotspace.org/v
  sc/solar/default.asp