education

When you need darkness to see the light: Total solar eclipses

whawkins — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 21:27:25 +0000

When you need darkness to see the light: Total solar eclipses whawkins Tue, 08/22/2023 - 15:27

When (times in MT)

Wed, Aug 30 2023, 5:30pm - 1 hour 30 minutes

Event Type

NCAR Explorer Series

Speaker

Paul Bryans

Affiliation

HAO

Building & Room

NCAR MESA LAB AND ONLINE

“Don’t look straight at it!” is the usual advice given about our Sun, but scientists do exactly that when studying the solar corona during total solar eclipses. Next year’s total solar eclipse affords scientists a unique opportunity to conduct research on the solar corona that is not otherwise possible. The corona is several million degrees hotter than the surface of the Sun and dominated by magnetic fields that store huge amounts of energy and, when distorted, can release this energy in the form of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena have a profound effect on the terrestrial environment, impacting communication satellites and the power grid. Measuring the corona is, therefore, crucial in being able to predict these events and protect resources from their effects. However, the corona is orders of magnitude dimmer than the surface of the Sun and under normal viewing conditions is completely overwhelmed by the surface brightness. It is only in the event of an eclipse that the corona becomes visible.

In this NCAR Explorer Series Lecture, NCAR scientist Dr. Paul Bryans from the High Altitude Observatory (HAO), will give a history of the efforts around observing the solar corona under eclipse conditions to unlock how the Sun affects life on Earth, how those studies can advance science and how NCAR will be researching the eclipse in 2024, all while offering advice on how to make the most of your own personal eclipse experience.

About the Speaker

Paul Bryans is a Scientist at the High Altitude Observatory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, where he researches the ways the Sun affects life on Earth. To do this he uses observations from many different telescopes, both on the ground and in space, which each give unique perspectives on how the Sun’s atmosphere is evolving. Dr. Bryans has been involved with field expeditions to observe solar eclipses since 2017, including leading a team to a mountaintop in Chile. In addition to solar research, Paul has also conducted research in the fields of supernova remnants, molecular clouds, and comets.

Additional Educational Resources

kolinski — Mon, 02 May 2022 19:07:06 +0000

Additional Educational Resources kolinski Mon, 05/02/2022 - 13:07

COMET - The COMET® Program at UCAR supports, enhances, and stimulates learning about atmospheric and related sciences. UCAR's public education programs aim to increase science literacy of the nation.

NASA - NASA is committed to investing in the Nation’s education programs and supporting the country’s educators who play a key role in preparing, inspiring, exciting, encouraging, and nurturing the young minds of today who will be the workforce of tomorrow.

NSDL(The National Science Digital Library) - NSDL is serving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Citizens of all ages can appreciate the atmosphere as part of the earth system, understand humans' relationship to it, and make informed choices about careers, lifestyles and public policies.

NSF (National Science Foundation, Astronomy & Space Discoveries) - NSF's public investment in science, engineering, education and technology helps to create knowledge and sustain prosperity. Read here about the Internet, microbursts, Web browsers, extrasolar planets, and more...

UCAR Center for Science Education - Citizens of all ages can appreciate the atmosphere as part of the earth system, understand humans' relationship to it, and make informed choices about careers, lifestyles and public policies. UCAR's public education programs aim to increase science educate the nation and to engage people in the wonder and relevance of science. They focus on scientific literacy, workforce development, and community engagement. Also visit: Classroom Activities Page and Teaching Boxes.

Living With a Star Institute - UCAR's Visiting Scientist Programs (VSP) heliophysics research is supported by NASA Living With a Star (LWS). Heliophysics is all of the science common to the field of the Sun-Earth connections and the LWS program aims to develop an integrated strategic mission plan and a comprehensive research program that encompasses all branches of solar, heliospheric, and space physics.

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Questions and Answers About the Sun

kolinski — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:27:37 +0000

Questions and Answers About the Sun kolinski Fri, 01/28/2022 - 11:27

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Questions and Answers About the Sun

What is the Sun?

What is the Sun made of?

How big is the Sun?

How far away is the Sun?

How heavy is the Sun?

How old is the Sun

How hot is the Sun?

Can the Sun be dangerous?

Why do we study the Sun?

How do scientists study the Sun?

What is an eclipse?

What are the Northern Lights?

What type of star is the Sun?

What are the physical characteristics of the Sun?

What kind of light does the Sun emit?

Does the Sun have a surface?

What are some historical observations of the Sun?

Why is it important to study the Sun?

What tools do scientists use to study the Sun?

How does the Sun work?

What are the aurorae?

How does the Sun affect communications?

How does the Sun affect our climate?

What is space weather?

What protects the Earth from the Sun’s space weather?

How strong can a geomagnetic storm be?

Solar Astronomy in the Prehistoric Southwest

kolinski — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 19:48:19 +0000

Solar Astronomy in the Prehistoric Southwest kolinski Mon, 01/24/2022 - 12:48

To varying degrees, nearly every known ancient human civilization has been preoccupied with the heavens. The Sun was especially an object of central importance to the prehistoric Native American civilizations. There is evidence that they carefully watched the movements of the Sun along the horizon and observed the play of light through windows and portholes at crucial times of the year. These ancient people supported full-time religious leaders with shrines or temples (Kivas). Most believed that in the universe there exists an Almighty, a formless spiritual force that is the source of all life. The sun was venerated as the power of the Almighty.

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Prehistoric SW Astronomy

The Ancient People of the American Southwest

Chaco Canyon

The Seasons

Horizon Calendars

Hovenweep Castle

Pueblo Bonito

Solstice Window

Casa Rinconada

Yellow Jacket

Hopi Tawa Kátsina

Solar Symbol Petroglyph

Solstice Marker

Fajada Butte

The 3-Slab Slit

The Sun Dagger

Solar Eclipse Petroglyph

The Sun Temple

Cliff Palace

Lunar Astronomy

Supernova Pictograph

Appendix

Credits

The Sun: A Pictorial Introduction

kolinski — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 19:26:04 +0000

The Sun: A Pictorial Introduction kolinski Mon, 01/24/2022 - 12:26

This slide-based introduction to solar physics touches on many of the major topics that solar scientists at HAO are working on.

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Pictorial Introduction to the Sun

The Solar Disk in White Light

The Solar Disk in Broadband Ca K

Sunspot and Granulation

Solar Magnetogram

Magnetogram of Active Region and Sunspot Pairs

The Sun in Hα

The Grand Daddy Prominence

Hα Filaments and Magnetogram

Total Solar Eclipse of 1980

Total Solar Eclipse of 1988

The Sun in X-rays

The Solar Corona in White Light and X-rays

A Coronal Mass Ejection

Two More Coronal Mass Ejections

Solar Activity in X-rays

White Light and Magnetic Flux

The Sunspot Cycle

The Butterfly Diagram

Hale's Sunspot Polarity Law

The Corona Through the Solar Cycle

Solar-Terrestrial Interactions

Credits

Famous Solar-Stellar Scientists

kolinski — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 17:28:37 +0000

Famous Solar-Stellar Scientists kolinski Fri, 01/14/2022 - 10:28

Solar physicists specialize in the study of the Sun. These scientists make detailed measurements that are possible only because the Sun is uniquely situated for close-range observation. Other stars cannot be resolved with anything like the spatial or temporal resolution that the Sun can. Solar physics encompasses many disciplines of pure physics, astrophysics, and computer science, including fluid dynamics and plasma physics. The study of solar physics is also important as it is believed that changes in the solar atmosphere and solar activity can have a major impact on Earth's climate. The Sun also provides a "physical laboratory" for the study of plasma physics.

Solar physics has its roots in ancient China where Chinese astronomers tracked lunar and solar cycles and observed solar phenomena such as solar eclipses and visible sunspots. Historical record keeping was scarce prior to 720 BC, but during the next 240 year period, 37 solar eclipses were noted. Babylonians (in modern day Syria) were keeping records from about 1300 BC of solar eclipses as well. According to Greek manuscripts the Egyptians also had the knowledge to predict solar eclipses.

Astronomical knowledge flourished in the Islamic world during medieval times. Many observatories were built in cities from Damascus to Baghdad, where detailed astronomical observations were taken. Further astronomical advancements, during the Renaissance period, lead to the significant proposition that planets revolve around the Sun and not around the Earth, as it was believed at the time.

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education

When you need darkness to see the light: Total solar eclipses

Category

Additional Educational Resources

Category

Questions and Answers About the Sun

Category

Questions and Answers About the Sun

Suggested Reading

Introductory textbooks on astronomy and astrophysics (pre-calculus level)

Archeoastronomy

Archeoastronomy of the American southwest

Archeology of the American southwest

Chaco Canyon

The nature and role of the Fajada butte 3-slab site

Southwestern rock art

Supernova 1054 and its probable depiction in southwestern rock art

Cultural and ceremonial practices of Pueblo people in historical times

Specifically for solar and lunar observational practices

Category

Solar Astronomy in the Prehistoric Southwest

Category

Prehistoric SW Astronomy

The Sun: A Pictorial Introduction

Category

Pictorial Introduction to the Sun

Famous Solar-Stellar Scientists

Category

Famous Solar-Stellar Scientists