Observing Our Sun and Solar

System

Jackie AllanMatt BobrowskyLou MayoChristine ShuplaJim Thieman

Image: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=178

Opening Observations

Examine the “stuff” on your group’s table.

What do you know about what you see?

What questions do you have?

Write down your group’s questions on one of the large tablet sheets.

Examining the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter

Our focus for today:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/moon_phases/about.shtml

Using the various methods developed by scientific explorers over time

Divide into heliophysicists, venusian scientists, and jovian scientists

Beginning Observations

• Record observations• What could early observers see when they

looked at the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter (before Galileo)?

• Record your group’s thoughts on your chart

Your answers may have included:• Positions of these objects in the sky• Time for cycles of motion• Brightness and changes in brightness• Eclipses• Probably not sunspots or Venus’ phases

Beginning Observations

Lou’s Observational Activities:

Time to gather some data!

Beginning Observations

What can be learned from the motions of the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter in the sky and where and when they rise and set?

Answers may include:• Angular motion• Length of year• Relative distances: order of objects from Earth

Beginning Observations

What other questions do we have about the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter, beyond their positions?

How do we get more and better science data? What is the next step?

Telescopic Observations

• Record observations• What could early telescopic observers see when

they looked at the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter (Galileo up to early late 19th century)?

• Record your group’s thoughts on your chart

Your answers may have included:• Sunspots and Prominences• Phases of Venus• Moons of Jupiter• Bands and Great Red Spot on Jupiter

Telescopic Observations

How did these observations change our understanding of the Universe?

Here is a strong connection to the International Year of Astronomy—new methods of observing create new questions and wonder!!

Time to gather some data!

Telescopic Observations

Now lets play with golf balls to model what we observe!

Sunspots

Telescopic Observations

What can be learned from observing sunspots, Venus’ phases, Jupiter’s moons, Great Red Spot, etc?

Answers may include:• Evidence that Earth orbits the Sun!• Sun’s rotation• Jupiter’s rotation• Orbital periods of Jupiter’s moons• Mass of Jupiter• Solar Cycle

Telescopic Observations

What other questions do we have about the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter?

How do we get more and better science data? What is the next step?

Telescopic Observations

Spectroscopic Observations

• Record observations• What could early telescopic observers see when

they looked at the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter (up to today)?

• Record your group’s thoughts on your chart

Your answers may have included:• Solar flares• Corona & chromosphere of the Sun• Absorption lines from Sun, Jupiter, Venus’

atmosphere

Absorption spectra

Spectroscopic Observations

Absorption spectra

Spectroscopic Observations

What can be learned from the spectroscopic data of the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter, and observations at other wavelengths?

Answers may include:• Discovery of helium• Composition of the Sun• Carbon dioxide atmosphere for Venus• Jupiter’s hydrogen and helium composition

Spectroscopic Observations

What other questions do we have about the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter?

How do we get more and better science data? What is the next step?

Spectroscopic Observations

Observations in Space

• Record observations• What can modern scientists see when they look at

the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter using current orbiting and fly-by missions? (SOHO, Galileo, Magellan, etc.)

• Record your group’s thoughts on your chart

Your answers may have included:• Wavelengths blocked by Earth’s atmosphere

(some radio, x-ray, ultraviolet, etc.)• More detailed spectra and images• Radar information

Observational Activities:From

http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/explore/lessons/matching_activity.html

Time to gather some data!

Observations in Space

Can you match the extreme ultraviolet image to the magnetic activity images?

If so, what does that tell us?

Observations in Space

What can be learned from orbiting and fly-by missions of Venus, the Sun, and Jupiter?

Answers may include:• Magnetic field information• Radar topography of Venus—volcanos!• Aurora information of Jupiter

Observations in Space

What other questions do we have about the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter?

How do we get more and better science data? What is the next step?

Observations in Space

Landing and Sample Returns

• Record observations• What can landing and sample return missions

learn about the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter?• Record your group’s thoughts on your chart

Your answers may have included:• Detailed Composition of the Sun, Venus, Jupiter• Extrapolate that information to understand our

Solar System’s and Earth’s history

Observational Activities:

Time to gather some data!

Landing and Sample Returns

What can be learned about the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter with past and future landing and sample return missions?

Answers may include:• From the Genesis sample return: composition of the early solar

nebula that formed our Solar System• From Venus: surface conditions, types of rocks will give us history of

geologic activity, maybe dates?• Jupiter: Galileo mission gave us conditions inside the atmosphere,

composition, winds, etc.

Landing and Sample Returns

What other questions do we have about the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter?

How do we get more and better science data? What is the next step?

Landing and Sample Returns

Observe the Solar System

Evaluation of Today’s Workshop

• 1. St. Louis Postcard: What one action step will you take to integrate materials/strategies that you learned about today into your own astronomy practice to help your audiences discover the universe during IYA?

• 2. Green Index card: Describe one or two key insights or strategies that you learned through today's workshop.

• 3. Red Index card: What suggestion(s) do you have for future NASA IYA workshop providers to better meet your needs for planning and implementing IYA learning opportunities?