Post on 20-Dec-2015
transcript
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?