our amazing sun (alexandria, march 26, 2006) eric priest
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
OUR AMAZING SUN(Alexandria, March 26, 2006)
Eric Priest
![Page 2: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
1. INTRODUCTION
For centuries we have worshipped the Sun
![Page 3: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Ancient Egyptians
Many forms of Sun worship:
Ra or Re - the Sun god (old kingdom)
![Page 4: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Aten
- the visible disk or face of the Sun
![Page 5: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Eye of Ra or Horus
(-- eclipse) reflects solar energy,
reason & mathematics
![Page 6: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Tutankhamun’s
throneKing & bride
- rays of Aten sun-disk protecting
& giving them life
![Page 7: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
1. Of great scientific interest in own right
2. Influence on Earth
3. Important for Astronomy
-- fundamental cosmic processes
But -- Many basic properties still a mystery
Why Study the Sun ?
So Sun is 1 of liveliest branches of astronomy
![Page 8: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
e.g., Gregory Chair of Maths: James Gregory
(1638-1675)
Co-founder of Calculus
Invented Reflecting Telescope
Traditionallyclose link Mathematics - Astronomy
To construct pyramids, Egyptians had outstanding grasp of both
![Page 9: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
James Gregory Elected FRS (Academician) 1668 (age 30) Appointed 1st regius prof maths at St Andrews (1668)
Given hall as lab -- see line for telescope along meridian
![Page 10: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
“OUR AMAZING SUN”(Theme: Sun full of surprises)
CONTENT:
1. Introduction 2. Structure of the Sun 3. Sunspots
4. Corona
5. Modern Surprises - SOHO satellite * Solar Flares and CME's
Conclusions
![Page 11: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Sun is plasma --> coupled (intimate,
subtle) to B
Another Theme:Many surprises caused by magnetic field (B)
B exerts force on plasma -- stores energy
![Page 12: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Ionosphere --> Sun (8 light mins)
stars (4 light years) [At 186,000 miles per sec]
MOST of UNIVERSE is PLASMA:
![Page 13: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Ionosphere --> Sun (8 light mins)
Learn basic behaviour of plasma from Sun
MOST of UNIVERSE is PLASMA:
![Page 14: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Vital Statistics
Ball of gas held together by gravity
100 x Earth = 700 Mm (1Mm = 1000 km)
2. STRUCTURE of SUN
Radius =
![Page 15: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Interior:Core
Convection zone
(> 0.7 R0)
Atmosphere: Photosphere, Chromosphere, Corona
Overall Structure
![Page 16: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Best ever images
by factor 100
to 70 km
resolution
Zoom from
full diskMovie
Covered with turbulent
convection cells: “Granulation”
(1 Mm)
Photosphere
Movie
![Page 17: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Thomas Harriot
discovered (1610) w. telescope
[Galileo]
-- Greeks, Chinese
3. SUNSPOTS
![Page 18: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Dark because cool But why cool ?
Surprise (1908):
site of strong magnetic field
Because magnetic field
(B) stops granulation
![Page 19: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Stunning Image
Penumbral structure
created by B
[Scharmer & van der Voort]
![Page 20: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Map of Photospheric Magnetic Field
White -- towards
Black -- away
Around sunspots -- bipolar
"Active Regions"
![Page 21: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Intense magnetic fields over whole
Sun
Movie
B carried to edges of
convection cells
Movie
![Page 22: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Chromosphere -- very dynamic
Simulation [Hansteen&Carlsson]
Corona
Chromor
Photor
light/dense.
β <1
β >1
t. regionMovie
![Page 23: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
("crown") -- See at ECLIPSE of Sun
Faint open structures -- Bright closed structuresSURPRISE (1868) -- Light from new element "Helium"
SURPRISE (1940) -- Temperature is million degrees !!!!
4. CORONA
![Page 24: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Another ECLIPSE
In corona B
dominates plasma
& heats plasma
Structure created by B
![Page 25: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Eclipse path
![Page 26: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Iran 1999(Koutchmy
-- see tomorrow)
Radial structures: outflow --solar wind
Research students
imaginative:
![Page 27: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Normally need eclipse to see -- Glare of surface
Observe direct with X-ray telescope
As T increases (furnace), object becomes bluer
CORONA:
![Page 28: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Picture with X-ray telescope:
Image from latest new satellite:Leon Golub (tomorrow) - pioneer
![Page 29: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Close-up of Magnetic Loops (Active region)
![Page 30: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
B strong - creates intricate structure
From the Side in Corona (TRACE)
- dominates plasma
![Page 31: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
5. SOHO (Solar & Heliospheric Observatory)
Observing Sun continuously for 1st time (ESA/NASA)
Launched 1995. Orbiting Sun
in phase with Earth
MANY NEW SURPRISES
--> 1st comprehensive view of Sun
QuickTime™ and aCinepak decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
![Page 32: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
The SUN this
week
Photo sphere
![Page 33: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Magnetic Field
![Page 34: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Corona at 1.6 MK
![Page 35: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Corona at 2.0 MK
![Page 36: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
QN. -- ? How Do Flares & CME’s Occur
SOHO Coronagraph -- Artificial eclipse
[Can reach Earth - communications / satellites]
Discovered huge ejections of plasma
![Page 37: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Photo- sphere
[from SOHO]
On October 28, 2003
3rd largest flare
![Page 38: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Outer Corona [from
SOHO]CME 2000
km/s
(5 times faster than
normal)
Snow -- relc
particles
![Page 39: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
Thurs Aurora in St Andrews
![Page 40: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
1 Week Later
(Nov 4 )- Fireworks Continued
the biggest
solar flare ever
recorded !
![Page 41: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
Close-up from TRACE
Movie of flare at limb
Movie of zoom in and out
![Page 42: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
6. CONCLUSIONS
Solar Physics - golden age - space observations
Sense of vitality will continue
Ancient egyptians intrigued by Sun -- continues
![Page 43: OUR AMAZING SUN (Alexandria, March 26, 2006) Eric Priest](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649e4e5503460f94b44b7b/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Future Space Missions
STEREO July 2006* Two satellitesStereo images of corona
Solar Orbiter (ESA) 2015* 3 times closer than Mercury
Solar Dynamics Observatory 2008* Successor to SOHO
Solar B (Japan-US-UK) Sept 2006 * Connections surface/corona