Safe Gazing at the Sun Page 1 of 5

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun or at a reflection of the sun.

DO NOT USE sunglasses, smoked glass, or improper welder’s glass.

ASTRONOMY LAB - Safe Gazing at the Sun

Safe Gazing at the Sun Page 1 of 5

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun or at a reflection of the sun.

DO NOT USE sunglasses, smoked glass, or improper welder’s glass.

OBJECTIVES:

Describe sunspots and the sunspot cycle.

Briefly describe or define: flare and prominence.

Find an image of the sun on the web. Go to click on Sunspots in the top right.

View the sun using a number of safe techniques. Describe and sketch these techniques.

View and sketch sunspots.

Keep clear, concise records of what you see and howyou did it.

BEFORE YOU COME TO LAB OUTSIDE:

Read about sunspots, the sunspot cycle, flares and prominences. (Chapter 8 in The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals textbook or on the internet)

Read this write-up.

In your notebook, label the top of a right page with the title “Safe Gazing at the Sun” (Table of Contents too).

Under the title, write a brief paragraph describing sunspots, including their size, why they look dark, and the sunspot cycle. Also briefly describe or define flare and prominence.

On the day of the exercise (or one day before), go to:

Click on the “Sunspots” image of the sun (upper right corner) to enlarge it. Print out the image and tape it in your notebook.

Decide if you want to bring a camera or a cell phone to take pictures of the setups. It is helpful but not necessary.

BRING TO LAB:

This write-up, a pen, your notebook with the information listed above written in your notebook and with the solar image taped or stapled in your notebook.

LOCATION and TIME:

Check the calendar and your email for any last minute changes due to the weather.

We are located on the sidewalk behind the T & L buildings. If you walk outside the cafeteria in the T building, you should the telescopes setup in the plaza area.

PROCEDURE & OBSERVATIONS:

Form into groups of 2 or 3. Keep your own record.

Record this information in your notebook:

  • your location
  • the date and time
  • the names of your observing partner(s)
  • the weather and sky conditions

For each viewing technique 1–8 on the following pages:

  • cutout & tape the photo of each setup ORsketch and label the instrument used
  • clearly describe what you see on the sun.

Another person must be able to duplicate your work from your record. You are welcome to use a cameraand include those pictures.

OBSERVATIONS:

Observe the sun using each of the following techniques in any order. Record the setup and your observations for each.You may use the pictures in this write-up.

Safe Projected Images of the Sun

The following 1-5 methods PROJECT the sun onto a screen.

1. Safe Projected Image of Sun - Pin hole method– Index cards

2. Safe Projected Image of Sun - Pin hole method – shoe box

Safe Gazing at the Sun Page 1 of 5

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun or at a reflection of the sun.

DO NOT USE sunglasses, smoked glass, or improper welder’s glass.

Safe Gazing at the Sun Page 1 of 5

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun or at a reflection of the sun.

DO NOT USE sunglasses, smoked glass, or improper welder’s glass.

3. Safe Projected Image of Sun - Small hand held telescope.

DO NOT LOOK THROUGH A TELESCOPE AT THE SUN unless it is filtered. See 6 -9 below.

4. Safe Projected Image of Sun - Sunspotter

5. Safe Projected Image of Sun - Reflecting telescope (Red Astroscan telescope).

Safe Filtered Images of the Sun

The next three methods (6-8) safely FILTER the sun’s rays.

6. Safe Filtered Image of Sun - Welder's glass (#14).

Safe Gazing at the Sun Page 1 of 5

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun or at a reflection of the sun.

DO NOT USE sunglasses, smoked glass, or improper welder’s glass.

Safe Gazing at the Sun Page 1 of 5

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun or at a reflection of the sun.

DO NOT USE sunglasses, smoked glass, or improper welder’s glass.

7. Safe Filtered Image of Sun –8” Dobsonian telescope.

8. Safe Filtered Image of Sun - Solar Max Telescope with H-alpha filter (narrow band-pass filter)