SOHO PROJECT I.M.S. SCIENCE Name(s)________________ ___________________
PLOTTING SUNSPOT LATITUDE & LONGITUDE: Period: ______
Date:`___________ SCORE:____/ 50
Objective: To observe and track the movement of
Sunspots
(actually, magnetically “active regions” across the Sun’s visible disk, using
the “Intensity gram images” because they show sunspots the best.
Web Sites:
Current Images of The Sun
SIDC
(SS#)
Stanford How
Sunspots Form?
Latest Soho Images High
Altitude Observatory
NASA
(search for sunspots)
1. Go to the SOHO site [ Data archive/ MDI continuum/ 512/ list/ Date To Date]
Each image indicates the time (SOHO MDI: Intensity gram, full disk, at 9:52 UT). 9:52 is the time.
Get two images for the same time of the day and make
a printout of two different dated internet solar images. [Six to seven
days apart at least] Days apart =
_______ 5
points
2. For each of the major sunspots groups, for each day record on a sunspot
recording worksheet:
Sunspot#
SS#*
SUNSPOT DATES: FROM: _______ ______ 20___ TO ________ _______ 20___
The name of each spot group.-Make up a name.
_______________________
Record the Latitude and Longitude of your sunspots movement over as
many days as you can observe it. (Mark the leading edge or center of the spot
group.) Give the (Latitude (NS) & Longitude (EW)) of the original sunspot.
Lat
________ (NS) Long ________ (EW)
Also note whether there were any observable changes in your sunspot groups
(has the group changed size, shape, disappeared altogether?)
How far did it move in one day in terms of
longitude? ______ degrees.
10 points
3. Estimate when the group will reappear from behind the sun’s limb (the edge).
________ days.
Do you think it will reappear on the left limb, after crossing the backside of
the sun? Yes No
Now, continue to check the daily solar images until you see your spot groups
disappear or reappear.
Disappeared date ________, returned
date _________. How long did it take?
________day(s).
*Note that because the Earth is moving around the Sun in the same direction
at about 1 degree a day, you need to add one percent to the computed apparent
daily motion to compensate for this. 5
points
4. This is exactly how the astronomer Christoph Scheiner (7/25/ 1575-6/18/1650) determined over 300 years ago that sunspots moved around the sun at a fixed rate.
Now do the handout on sunspots by going to the web site:
(Sunspots)
then attach 10 points
5. Next calculate the rotation
rate for the sun like
Christoph Scheiner:
See
Estimating Sun Rotation Rate and
Calculating The Rotation Rate of The Sun
Sun's Rotation Period = Sun's rotation time = SPOT's-time * (Sun's-distance /
SPOT's-distance)
days * rate
Example{ 30.33 days = (7*4.3) = 7 days *
(26 cm /
6 cm) }
{_____ days =
_______________ =
___________ *
___________ /
__________ cm) }
Exactly what is this rate for the sun to make a full turn (rotation: 360 degrees)? ________days 10 points
6. Lastly Go To the {DUMP
FOLDER }
click on
SUNSPOTSALL or SUNSPOTS-2010
and construct in excel:
Attach both graph's and answer the handout about the
SunSpot cycle,(
graphs )
10 points
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep this cover
page.
Total points: ____ / 50
points
_____________________
___/___/___ _____________________
___/___/___
Parent Signature Date
Parent Signature Date
(Please return at your earliest convenience.) Thank you
