sunspotter citizen science
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Observing the Sun andForecasting Solar Flares
Workshop introducing the Sunspotter citizen science project as part of the FLARECAST public engagement programme
FLARECAST has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement640216
![Page 2: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
We can look at the sun with naked eyes only for a very short moment during sunsets.
![Page 3: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
During daytime, we need to protect our eyes with eclipse glasses.
![Page 4: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
However, when there is no eclipse there is not much to see.
![Page 5: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
In order to see some interesting details we need telescopes.
![Page 6: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
We can observe sunspots with a simple telescope.
![Page 7: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
If we want to see more details, we can visit an observatory with better telescopes.
![Page 8: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
There are scratches and spots.
![Page 9: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
But sometimes we don‘t see anything at all.
![Page 10: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
We need to go above the clouds, mounting telescopes on a satellite.
On this satellite, we have four different telescopes.
![Page 11: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
From space, we can observe the sun without being disturbed by the weather on our planet.
![Page 12: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Zooming in allows us to see the sunspot in great detail.
What is this spot?
What is going on here?
![Page 13: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Another advantage of a space telescope:
We can observe light from the sun that cannot get through the atmosphere of the Earth.
This is the sun in ultraviolet light bubbling with hot gas.
Huge explosions may occur near sunspot areas – solar flares.
They may blast off millions of tons of matter into space.
![Page 14: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
See an example of an explosion:
a solar flare ejects a large cloud of particles.
![Page 15: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
See what we already know about solar flares.
![Page 16: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Solar flares may hit the Earth
We need to know in advance, when they will happen.
![Page 17: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
We do research
working with people from several countries
studying how we can forecast solar flares automatically.
We named the project FLARECAST.
![Page 18: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
What we know is
that extremely strong magnetic fields
constantly stir the solar surface up.
![Page 19: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
We also know that
solar flares occur when these magnetic fields
become too stressed.
![Page 20: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Using a computer programme we create images of the magnetic field from images made by one of the telescopes on board the satellite we saw before.
Here, we see two very strong magnetic fields just near the sunspot.
When they get squeezed and mingled together, they release their energy in a huge explosion. This can trigger a solar storm as seen in the movie.
![Page 21: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
When the magnetogram looks like this, we know that there won‘t be any solar flares in the next few days.
![Page 22: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Today‘s magnetogram:
Would you expect any solar flares in the next few days?
![Page 23: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Space telescopes produce a huge amount of images
Scientists cannot classify them alone.
We need your help!
![Page 24: SunSpotter Citizen Science](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062401/58ad4fd51a28ab0b0f8b4f11/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Contribute to science by helping scientists classify a set of 60 000 magnetograms.
Get started after the following mini-training.