Our Very Own Star

Show Description:

Beautiful views of the Sun are featured in this program, from optical effects of

sunlight in Earth’s atmosphere, to views of the Sun from space. Students make

observations that show how the Sun can be used as a time keeper and how sun- spots

can show us that the Sun is giant spinning ball of gas. They use models of the

magnetic fields of Earth and of the Sun to see why sunspots come in clusters and how

the Earth’s magnetism affects space around Earth. Classroom activities include using

a gnomon and shadow of the Sun to find East, safely observing the real Sun, tracking

sunspots, tracing magnetic fields, and watching solar storms.

Updates:

News/Updates for PASS: Our Very Own Star

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This program is available in electronic format, with all images and movies included, from the following sources:

For questions regarding content,

e-mail Alan Gould.

Classroom Activities:

• Where's East and West?

• Magnetic Field Mapping

• Safely Observing the Sun

• Does Earth-Sun Distance Cause Seasons?

• Simple Sun Observations

• Solar Storms

All activities copyright 1993 by the Regents of The University of California