AST 105 Observing the Sun Lab

1. What is the approximate surface temperature of the Sun in Kelvin?

- The Suns approximate surface temperature is 5800 Kelvin.

2. What layer of the Sun is considered the apparent surface of the Sun, and
why?

- We consider the photosphere, the surface of the sun. We consider the

photosphere the suns surface because it is the portion of the of the sun that
releases the radiation we see.

3. What is the hottest atmospheric layer of the Sun?

- The hottest atmospheric layer of the sun is the corona.

4. Where does nuclear fusion take place in the Sun?

- Nuclear Fusion takes place in the core of sun.

5. What is hydrostatic equilibrium?

- Hydrostatic equilibrium is the balance of a stars outward push balancing the

inward gravity.

6. What type of spectrum does the Sun produce?

- The sun produces an absorption line spectrum.

7. What are the four major properties of sunspots?

- The four major features of a sunspot are the common size 10,000 km
diameter, umbra, the penumbra, the strong magnetic pull opposed to the
surrounding photosphere.
8. How are sunspots created?

- Sunspots are created by magnetism coming out from inside the sun
penetrating through the photosphere. The magnetism traps the photons from
being emitted, which stops the light from being released. Leaving, what we
see as, dark spots on the sun.

9. Briefly describe the following major types of solar explosions: solar

prominence, solar flare, and coronal mass ejection.

- A Solar Prominence is the loop of plasma ejected from the active areas on the
suns surface, due to the suns magnetic field.

- Solar Flares are the product of the eruption of sun spots. When it occurs an
extremely hot gas, extremely intense energy is ejected from the sun.

- Coronal Mass ejections are explosions from the sun that travel millions of
kilometers per hour and can reach the earth within three days.

10. What is the name of the process that produces the Suns energy? From where
does this energy come from?

- The process that produces the suns energy is called Nuclear Fusion.
The Sun, just as Jupiter, is made up of hydrogen. Because of the Suns mass,
the Suns gravity is very strong and that holds each atom together. The
gravity keeps hydrogen atoms so pressurized at its core, that hydrogen is
condensed into helium. That process continues, on and on and on, which
builds energy.