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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.
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
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
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 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:
(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 a
Sorenson Video 3 decompressor
are 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