Observation by Bianca - St Marys Primary School Bridgend: Sunspots - 11 October 2024 12:47

Uploaded by

Helen Usher

Observer

Bianca - St Marys Primary School Bridgend

Observed

2024 Oct 11 - 12:45

Uploaded

2024 Dec 16 - 13:36

Objects

The Sun

Equipment

Seestar S50 with white light filter

Exposure

Single shot, no enhancement

Location

Bridgend, South Wales

Target name

The Sun

Title

Sunspots - 11 October 2024 12:47

About this image

This image was taken by Bianca, a Year 6 student (age 10-11) at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bridgend, Wales, with a Seestar S50 with the supplied white light filter. The Seestar is on loan from the DeepSpace 2 DeepImpact education project (funded by STFC and led by Cardiff University) as part of a pilot scheme to see how smart telescopes might be used in schools to get students making observations. BAA members are providing support for the students and teachers.

This is a very promising start, as once the Seestar was levelled with help from the teacher, the students did everything else themsleves. If/when the Welsh weather cooperates then the students will monitor sunspots!

Files associated with this observation

IMG_2143.JPG (147.5 kB)

Like this image

Steve Knight, Dr Paul Leyland, Paul Whitmarsh, Peter Carson

Comments

Dr Paul Leyland, 2024 Dec 17 - 13:40 UTC

Would it be worth drawing the attention of the pupils to the very obvious limb darkening as well?

Proves that the Sun has an absorbing layer above what looks like a light emitting surface, for a start, as the light from the limb has to travel through a greater thickness of absorbing gaseous matter than the centre of the disc. Go on to say that the Sun is entirely gaseous because it is far too hot for solids and liquids to survive.

Perspective of the spots as they are further or closer to the limb also proves that the Sun is a sphere and not a flat disc. Flat-earthers beware!

If images are taken several days apart the rotation of the Sun can, and should, be measured and the evolution of individual spot groups can be monitored.

Amazing what young children can learn from even one image they have taken themselves, and how much more from images taken over several days.

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