Today was a day to work on the final draft of our paper, since the symposium and such is now over with. No more observations now.
Since Ali and I have been done with our paper for awhile, we are still waiting for the Professor to read it. Ali sent another copy to the Professor via e-mail just the other day.
As for this blog, the journey is now over. No more research on my part will be done....especially since I am not a science major. Therefore, it has been great updating and chatting with you all.
I hope you learned something....
Thank you for listening.
:)
Sunday, April 29, 2012
April 23rd
Symposium day!
The symposium went very well. Ali and I explained our project and results to many students and a few teachers. A lot of people complimented our poster and admitted learning something new. They seemed very interested and asked us many questions.
However, it was a little embarrassing when we first got there because everyone had Print Shopped posters, while Ali and I took the time to hand-make our poster. But in the end, we made the poster work, since we were unable to hang it up, by sitting it on the chair and stapeling various pages of our paper on the wall behind it. Many people commented and liked the model of the sun that we made to accompany it.
Overall, the symposium went well.
The symposium went very well. Ali and I explained our project and results to many students and a few teachers. A lot of people complimented our poster and admitted learning something new. They seemed very interested and asked us many questions.
However, it was a little embarrassing when we first got there because everyone had Print Shopped posters, while Ali and I took the time to hand-make our poster. But in the end, we made the poster work, since we were unable to hang it up, by sitting it on the chair and stapeling various pages of our paper on the wall behind it. Many people commented and liked the model of the sun that we made to accompany it.
Overall, the symposium went well.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
April 16th-18th
Ali and I have finished the paper, and would just like the Professor to read it. We keep sending it to her, and waiting for a response....
So now, since we must present the results of our findings at the End-of-the-Year Symposium, which is comin up on the 23rd, we decided to stop observing and work on our poster. Ali wants the poster to be black but bought a white one because it is cheaper, so we painted it black. We also printed out some definitions, our abstract and conclusion, our data tables and graphs, and mounted them on the poster with some colored construction paper. We also printed out some pictures and made a model of the sun to help explain how the sun works, serving as a visual aid for better understanding to the audience.
So now, since we must present the results of our findings at the End-of-the-Year Symposium, which is comin up on the 23rd, we decided to stop observing and work on our poster. Ali wants the poster to be black but bought a white one because it is cheaper, so we painted it black. We also printed out some definitions, our abstract and conclusion, our data tables and graphs, and mounted them on the poster with some colored construction paper. We also printed out some pictures and made a model of the sun to help explain how the sun works, serving as a visual aid for better understanding to the audience.
April 2nd-11th
Ali and I have had no luck with weather these last few Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is awful. It is either raining or cloudy. Therefore, no observations have been made, and we have been working on the paper. We have updated and added more tables and graphs. One in particular was showing a relationship between the number of prominences and the number of Northern Lights occurrences for that same day. It turns out that the more prominences, the more the Northern Lights occur in places. For example, if there is one prominence, the Northern Lights will be seen in three locations. However, if there are 3 prominences, then the Northern Lights are seen in 7 locations, for example. This shows a positive correlation between the events on the sun and the events on Earth.
So, we have just been working on the paper, making conclusions, analyzing the data, and researching information, waiting for a sunny day....
So, we have just been working on the paper, making conclusions, analyzing the data, and researching information, waiting for a sunny day....
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
March 28th
No observations today due to rain :(
Therefore, Ali and I worked on our paper. We finished the Conclusion part of the paper, but are still not confident with the Abstract section. To calm our nerves and fears, we tried to get the Professor to read it in class, but other groups needed her more than Ali and I for their projects, so she didn't get the chance to read it. We then e-mailed her a copy of the Abstract and the Paper for her to read, if she has time.
Until the Professor reads what he have so far, and the sky clears up, nothing can be done. We are currently at a stand-still, but not in a negative way.
Therefore, Ali and I worked on our paper. We finished the Conclusion part of the paper, but are still not confident with the Abstract section. To calm our nerves and fears, we tried to get the Professor to read it in class, but other groups needed her more than Ali and I for their projects, so she didn't get the chance to read it. We then e-mailed her a copy of the Abstract and the Paper for her to read, if she has time.
Until the Professor reads what he have so far, and the sky clears up, nothing can be done. We are currently at a stand-still, but not in a negative way.
Monday, March 26, 2012
March 26th
Ali and I decided to work on our paper again today. Since the Abstract section of the paper is due in one week, and we only have two classes left to work on it, we decided to take advantage of today's Lab time. In the end, an Abstract was made and finished. Hopefully, it is up to par and acceptable for the Undergraduate Symposium application at my college. The draft was saved.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
March 21st
Although it was a beautiful day outside, Ali and I chose to not observe the sun today. Instead, we decided to work on the paper. We added some more tables to the Results sections, such as a Northern Lights Ocurance table and a Power Outages Occurance table. We also worked on the Analyze section, researching and writing about magnetic storms and when power outages occurred. We saved the draft, but Ali forgot to send it to me.
March 19th
This time, Ali went to look at the sun while I worked on the paper. I began the Analyze section, and began looking up when the northern lights have appeared recently, and seeing if it correlated with our data. Once again, observation was cut short due to little lab time given, due to the Professor's overtime on Lecture.
Here is what she observed:
At 2:05pm, the entire circumference of sun was full of solar flares. There is a lot of activity.
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At 2:10pm, there were less solar flares, about half as there were before. The solar flares are more spread out around the edges of the visible surfaces of the sun.
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By 2:15pm, there was no change than before.
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Overall:
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Here is what she observed:
At 2:05pm, the entire circumference of sun was full of solar flares. There is a lot of activity.
+-+Copy+-+Copy.JPG)
At 2:10pm, there were less solar flares, about half as there were before. The solar flares are more spread out around the edges of the visible surfaces of the sun.
By 2:15pm, there was no change than before.
Overall:
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March 14th
Due to rain, there are no observations today.
Instead, Ali and I worked on the Results section of the paper. She then saved the draft and sent it to me when class ended.
Instead, Ali and I worked on the Results section of the paper. She then saved the draft and sent it to me when class ended.
March 12th
Back at school, which means more observing time :)
Ali stayed in the room and worked on the paper, while I went upstairs to shortly observe. There was not much time to observe today because our Professor went over Lecture time beforehand, giving less Lab time.
Here is what I observed:
At 2:10pm, there were many prominences and a few big sunspots. In total, about four prominences were seen and 4 sunspots. It was interesting to see the sun today, perhaps because I hadn't observed it in a while, because there were two areas on the sun, right next to each other, in the lower hemisphere of the sun, that look like craters. The moon has craters, but the sun, I believe, doesn't. I don't know if is solar flares, but these areas honestly look like craters. I am going to have to look into it.
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At 2:12pm, a giant prominence is seen on the top of the sun (noon position), with two prominences at the other end (6 o'clock). The entire lower hemisphere is filled with solar flares. There is also two sunspots. One sunspot is at the 9 o'clock position, and the other one is near the solar flares, at around 6 o'clock.
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A minute later, at 2:13pm, three sunspots were seen. They were scattered about the sun (one in the 9 o'clock position, one at 1 o'clock, and one at 3 o'clock). I am surprised to see these because a minute ago, the data was different and these did not exist or appear. Can the sun really change that quickly? Also, the giant prominent at the noon position is still seen, along with now four prominences at the lower hemisphere (from 7 to 5 o'clock). A "crater" is still seen, which is hard to explain exactly what it is and how it looked, and now there is a dark jagged line of what I believe are sunspots.
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At 2:14pm, the only change is that where the crater is, there are two solar flares. Perhaps these "craters" are flares at a different stage of the process? Also, the dark line is gone, and there is only the sunspot at the 9 o'clock position.
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At 2:17pm, three prominences were seen (one at noon, one at 6 o'clock, and one at 5 o'clock), and two dark lines now, one sunspot (at 9 o'clock), two "craters", and now it appears as if there is another crater forming by that sunspot, but I don't think that is possible.
.JPG)
At 2:18pm, three prominences were seen in slightly different places (one at noon, one at 5 o'clock, and one at 8 o'clock). Also, there are two sunspots (one at the 10 o'clock position, and one at the 6 o'clock position).
.JPG)
By 2:20pm, activity began to increase. There are now three dark lines, a sunspot (at 9 o'clock) with a bunch of solar flares around it, and three prominences, as well as three "craters" grouped together with a few solar flares around it.
Also, I am wondering if Daylight Savings time is going to throw off our data because the sun is now higher in the sky, located at a different place in the sky, because it is an hour off than when we were observing it beforehand.
Ali stayed in the room and worked on the paper, while I went upstairs to shortly observe. There was not much time to observe today because our Professor went over Lecture time beforehand, giving less Lab time.
Here is what I observed:
At 2:10pm, there were many prominences and a few big sunspots. In total, about four prominences were seen and 4 sunspots. It was interesting to see the sun today, perhaps because I hadn't observed it in a while, because there were two areas on the sun, right next to each other, in the lower hemisphere of the sun, that look like craters. The moon has craters, but the sun, I believe, doesn't. I don't know if is solar flares, but these areas honestly look like craters. I am going to have to look into it.
At 2:12pm, a giant prominence is seen on the top of the sun (noon position), with two prominences at the other end (6 o'clock). The entire lower hemisphere is filled with solar flares. There is also two sunspots. One sunspot is at the 9 o'clock position, and the other one is near the solar flares, at around 6 o'clock.
A minute later, at 2:13pm, three sunspots were seen. They were scattered about the sun (one in the 9 o'clock position, one at 1 o'clock, and one at 3 o'clock). I am surprised to see these because a minute ago, the data was different and these did not exist or appear. Can the sun really change that quickly? Also, the giant prominent at the noon position is still seen, along with now four prominences at the lower hemisphere (from 7 to 5 o'clock). A "crater" is still seen, which is hard to explain exactly what it is and how it looked, and now there is a dark jagged line of what I believe are sunspots.
At 2:14pm, the only change is that where the crater is, there are two solar flares. Perhaps these "craters" are flares at a different stage of the process? Also, the dark line is gone, and there is only the sunspot at the 9 o'clock position.
At 2:17pm, three prominences were seen (one at noon, one at 6 o'clock, and one at 5 o'clock), and two dark lines now, one sunspot (at 9 o'clock), two "craters", and now it appears as if there is another crater forming by that sunspot, but I don't think that is possible.
At 2:18pm, three prominences were seen in slightly different places (one at noon, one at 5 o'clock, and one at 8 o'clock). Also, there are two sunspots (one at the 10 o'clock position, and one at the 6 o'clock position).
By 2:20pm, activity began to increase. There are now three dark lines, a sunspot (at 9 o'clock) with a bunch of solar flares around it, and three prominences, as well as three "craters" grouped together with a few solar flares around it.
Also, I am wondering if Daylight Savings time is going to throw off our data because the sun is now higher in the sky, located at a different place in the sky, because it is an hour off than when we were observing it beforehand.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
March 5th and 7th
SPRING BREAK!
No observations due to no school and the fact that Ali and I are both at home, without a solar telescope or observing deck. This is dreadful because all this week there have been news about the huge solar flares and storms and the affects on Earth. The one time we don't have class, and all this happens. I am a little upset I missed the storm and hope that it is still going on when I return to school and start observing again. I am very disappointed in the timing of this storm.
Dear Sun,
You couldn't wait a week for this to happen?
Sincerely,
An Upset Student Observer...and Fan
Anyway, I have been reading articles about the major event during this time, and hope to somehow incorporate it in the paper.
I can't wait for what the Professor has to say about the solar storm!
No observations due to no school and the fact that Ali and I are both at home, without a solar telescope or observing deck. This is dreadful because all this week there have been news about the huge solar flares and storms and the affects on Earth. The one time we don't have class, and all this happens. I am a little upset I missed the storm and hope that it is still going on when I return to school and start observing again. I am very disappointed in the timing of this storm.
Dear Sun,
You couldn't wait a week for this to happen?
Sincerely,
An Upset Student Observer...and Fan
Anyway, I have been reading articles about the major event during this time, and hope to somehow incorporate it in the paper.
I can't wait for what the Professor has to say about the solar storm!
Feb. 29th
Happy Leap Day!
And what a gift of a day it is. Today, the Professor gave us the gift of having double lab period. This allows more time for observing and paper writing. However, due to awful weather, we cannot observe today. I'm beginning to think Mother Nature is against Ali and I, with all the days we have missed out on observing the sun....
However, this allowed us time to work on our paper. Ali and I finished the introduction, theory, and methods sections of the paper. We saved the draft and had the teacher read what we wrote so far. She gave a few comments about being more concise and rephrasing some sentences. After I fixed those areas, I had the Professor read it again. This time, she said the paper looked good.
Ali and I have started well, but now comes the hard part, the Research section.
And what a gift of a day it is. Today, the Professor gave us the gift of having double lab period. This allows more time for observing and paper writing. However, due to awful weather, we cannot observe today. I'm beginning to think Mother Nature is against Ali and I, with all the days we have missed out on observing the sun....
However, this allowed us time to work on our paper. Ali and I finished the introduction, theory, and methods sections of the paper. We saved the draft and had the teacher read what we wrote so far. She gave a few comments about being more concise and rephrasing some sentences. After I fixed those areas, I had the Professor read it again. This time, she said the paper looked good.
Ali and I have started well, but now comes the hard part, the Research section.
Feb. 27th
No observing today due to bad weather.
However, in class today, the Professor went over how she wanted the paper to be, format wise. After receiving a handout, and going over the format and information needed in a scientific paper, Ali and I realized that we were doing the entire paper wrong. We spent the rest of the lab period deleting the paper we've been working on the whole time, and beginning the "new" paper with the correct format, style, and information. We managed to get part of the introduction done.
However, in class today, the Professor went over how she wanted the paper to be, format wise. After receiving a handout, and going over the format and information needed in a scientific paper, Ali and I realized that we were doing the entire paper wrong. We spent the rest of the lab period deleting the paper we've been working on the whole time, and beginning the "new" paper with the correct format, style, and information. We managed to get part of the introduction done.
Feb. 22nd
More observations! Today, Ali and I have discovered that we could use the telescope to view the outside from inside, by looking through the see-through glass door (if that makes sense). Overall, we are using the telescope inside the science building to look outside at the sun. This will save us from the cold.
At 1:45pm, we saw a large prominence (the triangle looking shape on the sun's surface) on top of the sun (at the 12 o'clock position). There was also one sunspot on the left side of the sun (10 o'clock), a line of sun spots on the right side of the sun (2 o'clock), and a smaller prominence on the lower left side of the sun (7 o'clock).
At 1:50pm, the prominence at the top of the sun is still seen as almost a flare out of the sun's surface. Also, the sunspot on the left side and line of sunspots of the right side are still seen. There is another line of sunspots, right next to the right side line from before, that is now present.
At 1:55pm, 3 solar flare areas are now seen. The first solar flare is located at the bottom of the sun (6 o'clock) and is moving in a downward, repetitive motion, like a weather map. The second flare is located on the right side of the sun (3 o'clock) and appears to be moving upward in a repetitive motion. Lastly, the third flare is next to the second flare, but more inward towards the center of the sun, and is moving downward.
We would have observed more, but we were rudely kicked out of our observing location by two maintainers who wanted to clean the floors. So, we went back down stairs and finished the introduction, as well as a paragraph about the sun's magnetic field and how solar flares affect Earth's economy between flight route changes with cost more in gas money, and power outages due to over stimulated circuits.
At 1:45pm, we saw a large prominence (the triangle looking shape on the sun's surface) on top of the sun (at the 12 o'clock position). There was also one sunspot on the left side of the sun (10 o'clock), a line of sun spots on the right side of the sun (2 o'clock), and a smaller prominence on the lower left side of the sun (7 o'clock).
At 1:50pm, the prominence at the top of the sun is still seen as almost a flare out of the sun's surface. Also, the sunspot on the left side and line of sunspots of the right side are still seen. There is another line of sunspots, right next to the right side line from before, that is now present.
At 1:55pm, 3 solar flare areas are now seen. The first solar flare is located at the bottom of the sun (6 o'clock) and is moving in a downward, repetitive motion, like a weather map. The second flare is located on the right side of the sun (3 o'clock) and appears to be moving upward in a repetitive motion. Lastly, the third flare is next to the second flare, but more inward towards the center of the sun, and is moving downward.
We would have observed more, but we were rudely kicked out of our observing location by two maintainers who wanted to clean the floors. So, we went back down stairs and finished the introduction, as well as a paragraph about the sun's magnetic field and how solar flares affect Earth's economy between flight route changes with cost more in gas money, and power outages due to over stimulated circuits.
Feb. 15th
No observations today do to cloudiness and rain.
We began the second paragraph of the paper today in class. This was on the Northern Lights in relation to the sun. Ali sent me a copy so that we may both continue it out of class. I haven’t had the time, yet. So far, we have very rough drafts of the first two paragraphs. A lot of work is still needs to be done, but it’s still early in the semester. I think we are on a good schedule so far.
Feb. 13th
We went to observe the sun again today. Due to extreme coldness and wind, our bodies were only able to last about ten to fifteen minutes.
At 1:38pm, there were a lot of sunspots (at least 7). There was one big sunspot and smaller sunspots in a crescent shape, going down the surface of the sun on the right side (from the 12 o'clock position to around the 4 o'clock position).
At 1:40pm, we began to notice a few solar flares in the lower half of the sun in a line that makes it seem like the sun has been cut in half.
At 1:45pm, there are solar flares shooting out of the surface of the sun, it appears. There is also two sunspots in the upper-middle of the sun, and one prominence in the lower left area of the sun (by 7 o'clock).
At 1:47pm, the crescent of sunspots were seen again, as well as 3 solar flare areas. These flare areas appear as a squiggly circle, a circle of flares that look like craters on the sun's surface. These areas are located in the upper left side of the sun (11 o'clock), the lower left side of the sun (8 o'clock), and the bottom part of the sun (6 o'clock).
At 1:48pm, more sunspots appeared. These sunspots are in the patter of a circle, around a solar flare crater. These are located in the middle of the sun's surface. At least 6 more spots appeared, and it appears to be a continuation of the sunspot crescent shape from earlier (1:38pm). This crescent shape has become almost a full circle, or rather, and ellipse.
By 1:50pm, the ellipse of sunspots appeared to have moved upward and to the right of the sun's surface. Where the solar flare was, is now a giant sunspot. Another solar flare circle is located at the very bottom right of the sun's surface area (5 o'clock). There are also about 4 giant lines of many sunspots grouped together, as part of this ellipse shape. Therefore, more sunspots have appeared.
And that was about all we could take. It was too cold for us to handle being outside any longer, even with my winter coat on.
At 1:38pm, there were a lot of sunspots (at least 7). There was one big sunspot and smaller sunspots in a crescent shape, going down the surface of the sun on the right side (from the 12 o'clock position to around the 4 o'clock position).
At 1:40pm, we began to notice a few solar flares in the lower half of the sun in a line that makes it seem like the sun has been cut in half.
At 1:45pm, there are solar flares shooting out of the surface of the sun, it appears. There is also two sunspots in the upper-middle of the sun, and one prominence in the lower left area of the sun (by 7 o'clock).
At 1:47pm, the crescent of sunspots were seen again, as well as 3 solar flare areas. These flare areas appear as a squiggly circle, a circle of flares that look like craters on the sun's surface. These areas are located in the upper left side of the sun (11 o'clock), the lower left side of the sun (8 o'clock), and the bottom part of the sun (6 o'clock).
At 1:48pm, more sunspots appeared. These sunspots are in the patter of a circle, around a solar flare crater. These are located in the middle of the sun's surface. At least 6 more spots appeared, and it appears to be a continuation of the sunspot crescent shape from earlier (1:38pm). This crescent shape has become almost a full circle, or rather, and ellipse.
By 1:50pm, the ellipse of sunspots appeared to have moved upward and to the right of the sun's surface. Where the solar flare was, is now a giant sunspot. Another solar flare circle is located at the very bottom right of the sun's surface area (5 o'clock). There are also about 4 giant lines of many sunspots grouped together, as part of this ellipse shape. Therefore, more sunspots have appeared.
And that was about all we could take. It was too cold for us to handle being outside any longer, even with my winter coat on.
Feb. 8th
No observations today due to cloudiness L
We began the first paragraph of the essay, as well as researched some information on how the sun’s magnetic field is different than Earth’s, which I didn’t know about beforehand.
Feb. 6th
Ali and I observed the sun again and this was the most interesting experience. Not only was it a miracle at how fast we were able to find the sun and set the telescope up accordingly, but we also looked at it for about 45minutes. The most peculiar thing occurred on it today; I believe we witnessed a solar storm! This was also the first time we decided that it would be important and wise to mark the times at which we are observing the sun when we draw what we see on the sun.
At 1:45pm, there were a lot of solar flares. There were three large sunspots, where one was located on the top (at noon spot, if looking on a clock), one on the right side (in between 3 and 4 o'clock), and the last one is on the lower left side (at around 7 o'clock). The solar flares were surrounding these spots, going around the circumference of the sun, it seems. Not many flares in the middle of this 2-D sun, we see through the telescope.
At 2:00pm, the flares move outward, making it look like the sun's edges have flew/flared out. Rather than being on the surface, as before, it appears the flares are literally flaring off the surface of the sun.
At 2:10pm, there is a lot of activity going on the visible surface of the sun. It appears that the flares and spots have now separated into two major areas and groups located at the top and at the bottom of the sun. Specifically at the bottom of the sun, more sunspots have appeared. There are at least 6 more sunspots, and at least two of them are very large spots. Plus, there is a long line of sunspots.
By 2:15pm, almost all the sunspots appeared to have disappeared, but there was still a lot of activity going on. However, most of the activity appeared to have moved upward, and is occurring at the top right side (between noon and 3 o'clock) of the sun. Also, the top portion of the sun appears to be a deep red, whereas the bottom of the sun is orange and yellow in color. I wonder if color has any relation to this solor magnetic storm.
At 2:20pm, a prominance (which looks like a triangle on the sun) appeared, but there is little activity other than that. No sunspots are seen, and no solar flares. The whole sun is red at this point. Perhaps, the storm has moved to the other side of the sun, the side we can't see through this 2-D telescope, since the sun is rotating, or the storm has ended?
By 2:25pm, we began to see the storm again. However, this time, it is located on the lower right side of the sun (at around 4 o'clock). This section contains solar flares that are going in a repetative motion of going upward, then, like a weather map, it starts over, and the flares start down and move upward again, and repeat (if that makes sense). Point of the story, we spotted solar flares moving upward, toward the middle of the sun.
From 2:30pm to 2:40pm, we see no activity, just one, giant sunspot at the top of the sun's sruface (at 12 o'clock). Perhaps this was the end of the storm?
By 2:40pm, class has ended, and we stopped observing.
At 1:45pm, there were a lot of solar flares. There were three large sunspots, where one was located on the top (at noon spot, if looking on a clock), one on the right side (in between 3 and 4 o'clock), and the last one is on the lower left side (at around 7 o'clock). The solar flares were surrounding these spots, going around the circumference of the sun, it seems. Not many flares in the middle of this 2-D sun, we see through the telescope.
At 2:00pm, the flares move outward, making it look like the sun's edges have flew/flared out. Rather than being on the surface, as before, it appears the flares are literally flaring off the surface of the sun.
At 2:10pm, there is a lot of activity going on the visible surface of the sun. It appears that the flares and spots have now separated into two major areas and groups located at the top and at the bottom of the sun. Specifically at the bottom of the sun, more sunspots have appeared. There are at least 6 more sunspots, and at least two of them are very large spots. Plus, there is a long line of sunspots.
By 2:15pm, almost all the sunspots appeared to have disappeared, but there was still a lot of activity going on. However, most of the activity appeared to have moved upward, and is occurring at the top right side (between noon and 3 o'clock) of the sun. Also, the top portion of the sun appears to be a deep red, whereas the bottom of the sun is orange and yellow in color. I wonder if color has any relation to this solor magnetic storm.
At 2:20pm, a prominance (which looks like a triangle on the sun) appeared, but there is little activity other than that. No sunspots are seen, and no solar flares. The whole sun is red at this point. Perhaps, the storm has moved to the other side of the sun, the side we can't see through this 2-D telescope, since the sun is rotating, or the storm has ended?
By 2:25pm, we began to see the storm again. However, this time, it is located on the lower right side of the sun (at around 4 o'clock). This section contains solar flares that are going in a repetative motion of going upward, then, like a weather map, it starts over, and the flares start down and move upward again, and repeat (if that makes sense). Point of the story, we spotted solar flares moving upward, toward the middle of the sun.
From 2:30pm to 2:40pm, we see no activity, just one, giant sunspot at the top of the sun's sruface (at 12 o'clock). Perhaps this was the end of the storm?
By 2:40pm, class has ended, and we stopped observing.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Questions
For this project, we must come up with a few questions to lead our research, and boy, do I have plenty. I notced that I use all this terminology, but I don't really know what it means, or understand it. Therefore, some background information and terminology of the sun may be useful. This led me to the following questions for this research:
Looks like I have a lot of work to do...These questions, I'm sure, will be answered in due time, hopefully in the paper.
- What is a sunspot? What causes it?
- What is and causes a solar flare?
- What is a solar storm?
- What is a solar minimum/maximum?
- What causes color variation in the sun (some days it appears red, other days it looks more orange and yellow)?
- How do sunspots affect Earth? Is there an effect?
- How will the solar mazimum effect Earth?
- Do solar flares/storms have an effect on Earth?
- What causes the Northern Lights? Is it sun related?
- What is coronal mass?
- What is the relationship between sunspots and temperature of the sun?
- How does the sun relate to Earth's magneticc field?
Looks like I have a lot of work to do...These questions, I'm sure, will be answered in due time, hopefully in the paper.
Feb. 1st
What better way to start a new month than with observing the sun?
Ali and I observed the sun today in class, but once again, it was not long. The wind made it almost impossible to find the sun and look at it for longer than a few seconds. Each time we found the sun, we'd lose it because of the wind moving the clouds, telescope, and our hands (which were shaking already from the coldness), before we could set/tighten the telescope in place. But, it is okay- we are still learning. We are by far not pros or scientists with this telescope, but one day, it will be Mastered. Moreover, I have learned to bring gloves for next time.
Today it was especially exciting to see the sun because there were a lot of sunspots, but only a few solar flares. Overall, not much activity, but I have never seen so many sunspots before! Due to my poor eyesight, I have trouble focusing on details on the sun, but managed to see 5 large blemishes of sunspots on the sun. There may have been more, or many blotched together to look like a giant one, but that is what I saw. Ali and I have different focuses when it comes to the telescope, we learned, and so it is a little difficult sharing the telescope, going back and forth between her good eyesight and my poor sight with the more defined focus setting. I find that once she changes the setting I had it on, it is hard to find the sun that clear again. The same goes for her when I change the focus setting on the telescope.
After we finished observing, we went back downstairs and started the introduction to the paper during the remainder of class. Ali typed it with her computer and sent it to me so that I may have a copy of it as well. I am beginning to wonder how formal this paper should be.
Ali and I observed the sun today in class, but once again, it was not long. The wind made it almost impossible to find the sun and look at it for longer than a few seconds. Each time we found the sun, we'd lose it because of the wind moving the clouds, telescope, and our hands (which were shaking already from the coldness), before we could set/tighten the telescope in place. But, it is okay- we are still learning. We are by far not pros or scientists with this telescope, but one day, it will be Mastered. Moreover, I have learned to bring gloves for next time.
Today it was especially exciting to see the sun because there were a lot of sunspots, but only a few solar flares. Overall, not much activity, but I have never seen so many sunspots before! Due to my poor eyesight, I have trouble focusing on details on the sun, but managed to see 5 large blemishes of sunspots on the sun. There may have been more, or many blotched together to look like a giant one, but that is what I saw. Ali and I have different focuses when it comes to the telescope, we learned, and so it is a little difficult sharing the telescope, going back and forth between her good eyesight and my poor sight with the more defined focus setting. I find that once she changes the setting I had it on, it is hard to find the sun that clear again. The same goes for her when I change the focus setting on the telescope.
After we finished observing, we went back downstairs and started the introduction to the paper during the remainder of class. Ali typed it with her computer and sent it to me so that I may have a copy of it as well. I am beginning to wonder how formal this paper should be.
Lots od sun spots- not much activity
Jan. 30th
This was the first day of real observation. After spending most of the time finding the sun, Ali and I, with the help of the professor, learned how to identify certain blemishes on the sun. We learned what a sunspot looks like, as well as a solar flare and prominence. Sun spots appear as black dots, while solar flares are these squiggled lines that move, almost like bacteria, and prominences look like triangels.
Seeing the sun for the first time was amazing. It was a beautiful orange and red color, one that I don't believe I have ever seen before. It was bright, but not that kind that hurts the eyes. It was exciting to see activity on the sun, and was a tough concept to comprehend that the image I saw through the telescope was an object in space so far away, better yet, the sun. It was unbelieveable.
Seeing the sun for the first time was amazing. It was a beautiful orange and red color, one that I don't believe I have ever seen before. It was bright, but not that kind that hurts the eyes. It was exciting to see activity on the sun, and was a tough concept to comprehend that the image I saw through the telescope was an object in space so far away, better yet, the sun. It was unbelieveable.
Note:
First arrow = Line = Prominences
Second arrow = Solar Flares = Squiggles
Third arrow = dots = sunspots
Fourth arrow = This spot has 5 patches of sunspots in the area.
There is a lot of speckling.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Jan. 26th
I saw Ali outside the residence hall that we both live in. Living in the same building is beneficial since she is my partner, so we could easily meet up. Today we talked about starting the intro of the paper on Monday’s class.
We have also been talking about some ideas for the paper through Facebook.
Jan. 25th
The professor showed us around the lab and observatory/observing deck that we will be working out. Luckily, we had enough time to finally start observing the sun! The professor wheeled out the sun telescope to the observation deck (which is a tiny thing, about a foot long, on a stand on a wheely table), taught us how to use it, which is simple but you basically take two caps off (one that covers the eye hole, one that covers the lens), tighten or loosen the mobility of the telescope, and to line it up with the sun. To line it up, you just have to eye the left edge of the telescope with the sun, so that they are lined up (form a line), and search for a white dot on an area of the telescope. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy that the sun could be hard to find through the telescope, and even harder to see once found. The sun telescope was shared with another group, even though there was a second telescope they could use. After trying to find the sun, with the help of the Professor, we wheeled the telescope back inside the building, and headed back to the classroom.
For the rest of the class time, Ali and I began sharing and discussing the information that we found while researching the sun on our own, and both agreed that it was hard to find any information on the correlation between weather and sunspots, and decided to not talk about weather in the paper.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Jan. 24th- Research Torture
This is my first day of actual research on the sun, and let me tell you, it is quite intense. After spending two hours in the Honors Center, I believe that it is almost impossible of finding out if the sun affects the weather at all. I'm thinking about dropping area of the paper. All I could find a lot on was the sun's relations to magnetism. I sent the information to myself, after copying the sites and some quotes down on a Word Document. There is so much information on the sun that it is very overwhelming. One page led to another, which led to another, and another, and another, and another, and another. I have noticed that the pretty pictures of the sun is what lure you in to reading all these articles on it, and then once sucked in, it's impossible to get out. I started this research with the Blackboard sites provided by the Professor, and then it exploded from there.
As much as I would love to share all the information I have found, there is too much and it may confuse you, dear reader, so I have decided to sum up the information that is pages long, in one or two sentences. In short, the sun affects Earth in the sense that solar flares cause a lot of power outages, due to overstimulated, electrified circuits (I think...). This led to examples of incidents and its effect on Earth, which is a negative one on our economy.
I may have to go over those notes again...
As much as I would love to share all the information I have found, there is too much and it may confuse you, dear reader, so I have decided to sum up the information that is pages long, in one or two sentences. In short, the sun affects Earth in the sense that solar flares cause a lot of power outages, due to overstimulated, electrified circuits (I think...). This led to examples of incidents and its effect on Earth, which is a negative one on our economy.
I may have to go over those notes again...
Jan. 23rd - The Paper Outline
The following LAB class period was used to discuss the layout of the paper with Ali, and what exactly we will be researching and observing. We have decided that we will research the sun in relation to weather, including UV rays and global warming, the magnetic poles, and northern lights. For the weather, we want to see how sun spots and solar flares affect the Earth's weather, why they are a big deal. We would like to see if there will be an increase in solar radiation, and if we are protected, by comparing the sun spots of previous years up to today, as well as what solar wind is, and if solar flares cause damage to Earth.
As for the area about the magnetic poles, we will like to see if the sun's poles will be switching, and if they affect our North and South Poles switching. We would also like to know if electricity will be affected from solar poles switching, and if it will occur fast or slow. We would also like to know more about magnetic storms.
As for the northern lights, we would like to know how the sun spots affect the appearance of them, and how they occur.
Overall, we would like to see if sunspot, solar flares, and magnetic storms have increased and its effect on Earth. Basically, are we in a solar maximum? And, what does that mean to Earthlings?
This discussion in class has only made me realize how much I do not know about the sun.
Note: This is a rough rough draft of our paper and research, so far.
As for the area about the magnetic poles, we will like to see if the sun's poles will be switching, and if they affect our North and South Poles switching. We would also like to know if electricity will be affected from solar poles switching, and if it will occur fast or slow. We would also like to know more about magnetic storms.
As for the northern lights, we would like to know how the sun spots affect the appearance of them, and how they occur.
Overall, we would like to see if sunspot, solar flares, and magnetic storms have increased and its effect on Earth. Basically, are we in a solar maximum? And, what does that mean to Earthlings?
This discussion in class has only made me realize how much I do not know about the sun.
Note: This is a rough rough draft of our paper and research, so far.
Jan. 18th and 19th - Topics
After hearing the topics to choose from, on the 18th, I had narrowed it down between researching the sun or discovering an asteroid using Pan-STARRS and International Astronomical Search Collaberation. As cool as the asteroid search seems to be, I think I am leaning towards studying the sun because I am awful with technology, and it may be hard to make sure that if I do find an asteroid, it isn't one that is already found. Plus, the sun sounds interesting, especially because it is the giant star that we orbit around. Not much about the sun is taught in school, and to see it up close with a telescope for once, where it won't hurt my eyes and blind me, sounds amazing.
After talking with a classmate, Ali, about class, we discovered that we would work great together. We both want to receive an A in the class, and are hard workers. We both have similar ambition, drives, and motivation. We knew that we could count on each other, since we are not fans of group work, due to bad experiences of always doing the work while others in the group slacked off. So, I got my partner, but what topic do I choose?
After later discussion with Ali about the topics, and her e-mailing the Professor for clarification and such, we decided to do the sun. Perhaps we could do the asteroid one as well, only not for a grade, but for fun?
Step One: Complete.
After talking with a classmate, Ali, about class, we discovered that we would work great together. We both want to receive an A in the class, and are hard workers. We both have similar ambition, drives, and motivation. We knew that we could count on each other, since we are not fans of group work, due to bad experiences of always doing the work while others in the group slacked off. So, I got my partner, but what topic do I choose?
After later discussion with Ali about the topics, and her e-mailing the Professor for clarification and such, we decided to do the sun. Perhaps we could do the asteroid one as well, only not for a grade, but for fun?
Step One: Complete.
The Beginning
For my Honors PHYS 107 class, we are required to do a research component related to astrology. My partner, Ali, and myself, have decided to research the sun and see if there are any changes in the solar cycle, such as the number of sunspots. With collected research from our own observations with a solar telescope. as well as through online research, we will eventually write a paper about how these observations of solar storms and sunspots affect Earth. This blog will serve as a journal of this research.
Note: I had started this journal in a notebook, and am now switching over to a blog, so these next few blog posts will be from a previous day, though posted on the same day, if that makes sense.
Note: I had started this journal in a notebook, and am now switching over to a blog, so these next few blog posts will be from a previous day, though posted on the same day, if that makes sense.
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