Astronomy at Evergreen, 2003

an update from Dr. E.J. Zita (zita@evergreen.edu)

Wed.8 Jan. 2003 at SPSCC, 8:00 pm

for the Southwest Washington Astronomical Society (SWWAS)

Studying the Sun

• 3-year NASA grant• colleagues at High Altitude

Observatory, Boulder• students study the Sun• Zita calculates equations• Magnetic fields heat the

solar atmosphere• Magnetic outbursts affect

Earth

Magnetic dynamics heat the Sun

Solar atmospheric temperature rises to millions of degrees K!

High Altitude Observatory

• Part of the National Center for Atmospheric Research

• Boulder, CO• Evergreen students and

faculty visit HAO each July• Supercomputer models

calculate magnetic waves• Satellite data from TRACE

and SOHO

Satellite data: photospheric sound waves become chromospheric magnetic waves

SOHO telescope carries

SUMER, which measures ultraviolet (UV) light

UV is bright where • plasma is hot or where• magnetic field is strong

Evergreen Students analyze satellite data with HAO

Supercomputer data: magnetic waves heat the chromosphere

Model sound waves near

magnetic sunspots.

Students write programs to analyze supercomputer data from HAO.

Magnetic waves heat the chromosphere.

Zita calculates magnetic waves

Observations Schematic Mathematical model

x

Magnetic energy travels on twisted magnetic field lines.

Large twists explosive release of magnetic energy.

Magnetic outbursts affect EarthSolar Max:

• more magnetic sunspots• strong and twisted magnetic

fields• magnetic tearing releases

energy and radiation• cell phones go out• great Northern Lights• Solar flares, prominences,

and coronal mass ejections• Global warming• next peak in about 2011

CME movie

Meanwhile, on the ground...

• New little observatory at Evergreen

• Fancier observatory in the planning process

• Goals: observe the Sun, home for Meade LX-200, serve astronomy students, and welcome the public.s

Let’s observe together:

• Spring Astronomy class• Joint star parties?• Share astronomy with local

schools (OHS, BH, CHS)

• email me:

<zita@evergreen.edu>

ReferencesNCAR= National Center for Atmospheric Research: http://www.ncar.ucar.edu/ncar/

HAO = High Altitude Observatory: http://www.hao.ucar.edu/public/inside/inside.html

TESC = The Evergreen State College: http://www.evergreen.edu

Dr. E.J. Zita: zita@evergreen.edu, http://192.211.16.13/z/zita/home.htm

SOHO = Solar Heliospheric Observatory: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/

SUMER = Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation: http://www.linmpi.mpg.de/english/projekte/sumer/