Using small solar observatories for multidisciplinary education

Igal Patel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The Sun is the nearest and most important star in the sky. It effects every aspect in our life in our planets. The Sun is the only star that has an angular size much larger than a spot of light. In fact, even through a small Solarscope, many details can be seen on its face. The Sun can be used as a live laboratory for teaching many issues in all levels of schools: physics, chemistry, climate, environment, astronomy and space. Also, The Sun is the only star that we can see only at day time-The time of the day that kids are in school. A ground based Solar observatories can be used in order to monitor the Sun in a real time along with observations of the Sun from space Solar observatories such as SDO. Although the detailed studies of the Sun are made mainly from space, Small Solar observatories can be used in order to encourage kids to enter the field of space, science and astronomy. Today's technology enable us to observe the sun in a detail even with a low budget equipment. Observing the Sun in some wavelength such as Ha, Call, Sodium and even a white-light, is now affordable to amateurs and schools. The Sun is a live object and its face are changing all the time. Sunspots, Flares, Granulations, Prominences etc., can be seen in small Solarscopes and the data from the observations can be used in order to teach many scientific aspects, from the Sun itself, through physics and chemistry, to changing climate and enviroment. In the paper we will describe the Cosmos Solar-Observatory, and the main educational issues: The Sun, Light and radiation, Magnetism, Space weather, Climate and enviroment. In addition, we present the vision of a worldwide net of Solar observatories for research and educational purpose.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication66th International Astronautical Congress 2015, IAC 2015
Subtitle of host publicationSpace - The Gateway for Mankind's Future
PublisherInternational Astronautical Federation, IAF
Pages9966-9973
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781510818934
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event66th International Astronautical Congress 2015: Space - The Gateway for Mankind's Future, IAC 2015 - Jerusalem, Israel
Duration: 12 Oct 201516 Oct 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume13
ISSN (Print)0074-1795

Conference

Conference66th International Astronautical Congress 2015: Space - The Gateway for Mankind's Future, IAC 2015
Country/TerritoryIsrael
CityJerusalem
Period12/10/1516/10/15

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