Physics Home > Teaching Labs > Astronomy > Sunspots

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Points of Emphasis

Prerequisites

Lab Activities

The students use the 10-Schmidt Cassegrain telescope to observe the solar disk using a commercial solar filter. They are asked to sketch the largest three sunspots, recording the date and time along with the location of each sunspot with respect to the east and west edges of the solar disk. From their drawings each student is asked to:

1. Determine the actual physical sizes of each sunspot in kilometers.
2. Determine the rotation velocity of the Sun (using a web based Solar lab exercise found at the "Stanford Solar Center").
3. Determine the date at which each of the sunspots will disappear behind the Sun's edge.

Course Level

Introductory

Student Handouts

Equipment

Notes

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