Solar limb darkening and Sun structure

This project is similar to that entitled 'Solar prominences and scales' as students will be using the Solar Scope, at the NTU observatory, to take images of the Sun. However, in this project students will experience in more detail, how we gather information from the Sun and learn more about its structure.

Only one or two images are required for this project, however these must be taken with no clouds in front of the Sun.

Using widespread or free software programs, such as Excel or ImageJ, students will analyse the images taken, and derive data in the form of plots. This data will then be used to draw conclusions either by conducting a simple lab experiment or by developing a mathematical theory. In both cases students will see how their predictions compare to reality, thus following in the footsteps of professional scientists.

Following this session, participants will have learned about astronomical cameras, the Stefan-Bolzmann law for black bodies, trigonometry, and how the temperature of the Sun changes within the Sun itself. Most importantly, they will have a better understanding how scientists work and how science always has to describe the observations.

View project images