A brief history of Christoph Scheiner (1573-1650).

When a large bundle of magnetic field lines breaks through the Suns surface, a sunspot can form. Sometimes, a smaller spot will emerge nearby, creating a magnetically complex region where particles are energized and then violently expelled. Supercomputer models show that rearranging magnetic field lines enables this process.

Solar flares are the most powerful explosions in the Solar System and play an important role in the Sun-Earth connection. Solar flares are caused by sudden changes of strong magnetic fields in the Sun’s corona. The changing magnetic field converts magnetic potential energy into kinetic energy by accelerating charged gases (plasmas) in the corona. The plasma is channeled by the magnetic field up and away from the Sun. Plasma is also accelerated back down along the magnetic field into the chromosphere. In the chromosphere, the plasma crashes into denser gas and releases its kinetic energy into thermal energy, sound, and light energy. The activities in this guide are meant to teach students about the Sun and solar flares. Along the way they will learn about important basic concepts in physical science, and practice their mathematics and literacy skills. The chief physical science concept in these lessons is that of magnetism, or more generally electromagnetism. This guide was developed for grades 8-12 and is intended to be used as a supplement to the original Exploring Magnetism lesson guide, which was developed at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory for the Education and Public Outreach Programs of the NASA missions RHESSI, STEREO-IMPACT, THEMIS, and FAST. It is strongly recommended that Exploring Magnetism be used as a prerequisite to this guide. Sessions 1 and 2 of Exploring Magnetism are about magnetism in general and then its connection to electricity. Session 3 was developed in the first supplemental guide in the series, Exploring Magnetism in the Solar Wind, and is about how the STEREO mission will measure the magnetic field of the Solar Wind.

This video segment adapted from NOVA shows how Galileo used his telescope to carefully observe and study sunspots.

In this activity, students work in teams to construct the components of the model and make presentations on the results of their effort.

A brief biography of David (1564-1617) and Johannes (1587-1616) Fabricius.

A brief discussion of the moon and the scientists who attempted to map it.

This humorous OLogy article introduces kids to the Sun. The big star answers 15 questions, including: Your agent told me that you're the biggest star in the universe. Is that true? I know you star types tend to be touchy about age, but how old are you? Actually, I'm curious to know how stars begin. What's your story? Let's turn to a delicate subject. How do stars die? In Hollywood, I meet a lot of people filled with hot air. What gases are inside you?

SOHO-MDI performs a sonogram of the sun, revealing the subsurface temperature profile around a sunspot. Red isosurfaces denote regions where the sound speed (and temperature) are higher than average while blue isosurfaces directly under the spot illustrate where the sound speed (and temperature) are lower than average.

This version projects the solar image on a sphere for improved perspective.

This version projects the solar image on a sphere for improved perspective.

Using the mathematical techniques, the SOHO-MDI view of the front side of the Sun can be processed to reveal features on the far side of the Sun.

This educational brief provides an overview of the types of solar activity and their potential effects on Earth, along with brief descriptions of some spacecraft and instruments that are used to study solar activity Links to a glossary and to additional information are included.

Three views of the Sun showing different levels of solar activity. The color table has been altered to enhance the appearance of the faculae (white regions) which are hotter than sunspots (red-black regions) and whose greater total area contribute to increasing the solar flux reaching the Earth.

Teachers can access activities and lesson plans, introductory material, a glossary, and frequently asked questions about the sun. Materials include images, videos, CDs, and posters. An extensive selection of links to other sun-related materials is also provided.

Zoom-in to the sunspot group and watch it rotate

An animated graph showing the eleven-year sun spot cycle, as shown by measurements of sun spot number. Following this graph, an animation compares sun spot number measurements for the 1990s with direct measurements of the change in solar ultraviolet irradiance from SUSIM.

A brief history of sunspots.

Using the SOHO Michelson Doppler Interferometer (MDI), scientists can use a process called Time-Distance helioseismology to determine temperatures and fluid flows under the surface of the Sun.