Astronomers study the Sun for various reasons, including its great detail observation, influence on Earth and near-Earth environment, and its impact on radiation and particles. New observational techniques allow astronomers to measure small differences in velocity at the Sun’s surface to infer the deep solar interior. They use observations to build computer programs containing information about the physical processes going on in the Sun’s interior.
Spectroscopy is used to see elements produced in different parts of the Sun, while radar studies radiation and acoustic techniques study the interior. Two types of measurements are devised by astronomers to obtain information about the inner parts of the Sun: analyzing tiny changes in motion of small particles.
Helioseismology is a technique used by scientists to study the Sun’s internal structure by analyzing waves and oscillations on the Sun’s surface. Studies of solar oscillations (helioseismology) and neutrinos can provide observational data about the Sun’s interior. The radiative zone is characterized by the method of energy transport – radiation, with energy generated in the core being carried by light (photons).
Satellites and ground-based telescopes are used to study the Sun, observing everything from its outer atmosphere to its surface and interior. Astronomers use observations to build computer programs containing information about the physical processes going on in the Sun’s interior. High-speed cameras are used to take hundreds of images in a few seconds and run sequences of images in time.
In conclusion, studying the Sun is crucial for understanding its stellar structure, evolution, and the impact on Earth and the near-Earth environment.
📹 Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1
Welcome to the first episode of Crash Course Astronomy. Your host for this intergalactic adventure is the Bad Astronomer himself, …
How do scientists study the Sun?
NASA uses a fleet of solar observatories to monitor the sun 24/7, studying its outer atmosphere, surface, and interior using magnetic and helioseismic instruments. The sun is a dynamic star made of super-hot plasma, which constantly changes its surface and atmosphere due to magnetic forces. The sun releases energy through light flow, particles, and magnetic fields, which can have ripple effects on the solar system’s magnetic edge.
How do scientists know what’s inside the Sun?
The Sun’s interior is too dense to be seen, making it difficult for photons to stream out into space and Earth. Scientists use helioseismology to probe its structure, using sound waves that bounce around the Sun’s interior. This causes the surface to pulsate slightly, and the rising and falling of the photosphere can be measured to provide information on the density and motions of the material within the Sun.
The photosphere, the first part of the Sun to be studied, is visible in white light, which is the same light we detect with our eyes. Many telescopes on Earth study the Sun in white light, sometimes using filters to reduce the amount of light received. The chromosphere, the highest temperature part of the solar atmosphere, can be observed by light emitted from ionized Helium, which is in the Ultra-violet part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Special telescopes are used to detect this wavelength.
The corona, the hottest part of the solar atmosphere, needs to be viewed in the hottest and most energetic end of the electromagnetic spectrum, using instruments that detect Ultra-violet and X-ray radiation.
What methods are used to study astronomy?
The advent of modern astronomical tools, including telescopes, particle detectors, spectrometers, satellites, and space probes, has led to a significant revolution in scientific advancements. These tools have enabled researchers to record and analyze light emitted by astronomical bodies, observe distant galaxies, and conduct a multitude of other studies.
How do we know the interior structure of the Sun?
The Sun’s interior temperature can only be determined by complex calculations using our understanding of physics and observations. Astronomers use observations to build a computer program that calculates the temperature and pressure at every point inside the Sun and determines nuclear reactions. The program evolves with ever-improving observations, and it can also predict the Sun’s changes over time. As the Sun depletes its hydrogen supply, it creates helium instead.
The changes in the Sun’s center could be catastrophic, as all hydrogen fuel hot enough for fusion will be exhausted. Either a new source of energy must be found or the Sun will cease to shine. The ultimate fate of the Sun will be described in later chapters. To carry out calculations, we must teach the computer about the Sun and understand the particles in a gas, which produce pressure through collisions with the surrounding material. This knowledge is crucial for understanding the Sun’s interior temperature and potential future changes.
What are two general ways we learn about the Sun’s interior?
The study of solar vibrations and solar neutrinos is employed to gain insight into the internal structure of the Sun, in a manner analogous to seismic testing on Earth. Additionally, this approach serves to evaluate the current understanding of nuclear physics and fusion processes occurring within the Sun’s core.
What method do astronomers use?
Stellar parallax represents the sole direct method by which astronomers can measure distances outside the Solar System. This method is based on trigonometric principles and involves the observation of nearby stars appearing to shift slightly in relation to more distant ones.
Which of the following methods have we used to learn about the interior of the Sun?
Helioseismology is a scientific method used to study the convection region of the Sun. This is analogous to the use of seismology to study the interior of the Earth.
What process is used to understand the interior structure of the Sun?
The Sun’s core, the most dense part, requires more than two thousand years for photons to reach the convection region. Helioseismology is a scientific method used to study this part of the Sun, which is analogous to the study of the Earth’s interior through seismology.
How can astronomers measure the properties of the Sun’s interior?
Astronomers have developed two methods to study the inner parts of the Sun: analyzing tiny changes in the motion of small regions at the Sun’s surface and measuring the neutrinos emitted by the Sun. The Sun pulsates, expanding and contracting like a chest expanding and contracting as you breathe. This pulsation is detected by measuring the radial velocity of the solar surface, which is the speed with which it moves toward or away from us. The velocities of small regions on the Sun change in a regular way, starting with Earth and then moving away.
The typical velocity of one of the oscillating regions on the Sun is only a few hundred meters per second, and it takes about 5 minutes to complete a full cycle from maximum to minimum velocity and back again. The change in the size of the Sun measured at any given point is no more than a few kilometers.
What do astronomers use to study the Sun?
Ground-based telescopes and coronagraphs are used by scientists to continuously monitor the Sun, observing different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. These telescopes can be built larger than those sent to space and are easier to access for repair and enhancement. Most of these telescopes are located at high elevations to counteract distortions when viewing the Sun through the Earth’s atmosphere. The Mauna Loa Solar Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii is home to the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, which provides continuous images of the Sun for research and the public.
Studying the Sun from space involves a fleet of satellites orbiting Earth, which gather clearer, less distorted images outside the Earth’s atmosphere. NASA spacecraft, such as Voyager I and Parker Solar Probe, have advanced our understanding of the Sun. The Artemis mission aims to study the impact of Sun radiation on the Moon’s surface, which doesn’t have a protective magnetic field like Earth. Studying the Sun from space allows us to more easily detect disruptions that signal the onset of solar storms, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can create harmful space weather conditions that influence Earth.
How do astronomers study the Sun’s interior?
The interior of the Sun is studied by astronomers through a variety of methods, including the observation of solar flares. These are intense energy bursts that release radiation, thereby providing insights into the processes occurring within the Sun.
📹 How do we study the stars? – Yuan-Sen Ting
Our best technology can send men to the Moon and probes to the edge of our solar system, but these distances are vanishingly …
As a kid in a country like Afghanistan it’s been always a big dream of mine to learn about the cosmos and become an astronomer. I remember every summer night which I was sleeping outside on the balcony, I was staring at the sky for hours and I was amazed (and still I am) by the world up there. As the time went on and I grew up, specially in the last years of my school I realised that in order to make a living for myself and for my family I’ve to study sth. which I could find a job in the future in a country like Afghanistan. So I decided to Study Civil Engineering; right now I’m doing my postgraduate studies in Civil Engineering in Germany. But still I couldn’t forget about my dream and even today astronomy is my passion and who knows may be this article was a kick off to start with it. And I’m sure I am going to start learning about the universe seriously. one day…..
I want to be an astronomer when I grow up. I’m not sure if that means writing books, or teaching a class, or working in an observatory, but I just want to be able to learn about the universe and then teach it to other people. I’m not sure if I’ll actually be able to DO that, but I’ll just have to see how life goes and learn what I can for now. Thanks for this Crash Course!
This dude’s voice is so awesome it’s now going to replace my brain’s narration voice, so I can hear him explain everything I do. “ManToast, feeling more creative today than usual, decided to combine his coffee with the hot chocolate he forgot he kept in the back of his cupboard, thus creating a mediocre, yet still satisfying, Mocha coffee.” It’s not weird, I promise.
I’m an amateur astronomer and I’ve been waiting for this series since however many months ago Hank mentioned it. I haven’t watched the article yet but I’m really holding out hope that this series is decent. I know Phil Plait well, and if my word means anything, give him a chance. Just because he isn’t one of two people in the entire world who you’d be happy hosting this series, doesn’t mean he wont do an awesome job.. I’m sure. Starts article….
I’ve always had this fascination with astronomy and I’d love to undertake it as a career to study the science behind what lies along the infinite unknown, in the outskirts around our world and beyond. I’m 33 years old, currently studying economic management science with 2 other tertiary qualifications: Sound engineering and Computer engineering. Do you think I would be able to take on the dedication and understanding of an astronomy along the levels of what your article (any a few others) have described ?
I have always loved Crash Course and I find that I learn about history and geography which besides journalism were my favorite subjects. I know have a new passion and that is learning about the Universe. I was in the same situation as he has described,that our understanding of the Universe was not a fascinating subject in school and not many people took a interest learning about it. Then Hubble Telescope came along and changed every thing! I find it amazing how much our understanding of the Universe has grown in my life time. As always thank you very much for putting together such a amazing article and Thank You to all the people who work so hard to put these together. I find it incredible that articles like these are free to any one who wants to further their knowledge about a whole range of different topics and are put together so great. Greetings from Atlantic City New Jersey U S A!
I love this crash course series on Astronomy! It is the best thing I have yet seen on Youtube 🙂 Phil is fantastically engaging and informative. My 8 year old kids watch this at will. They will turn off kids TV to watch. It is amazing. My wife watches with me. She has not shown any particular interest in science before but we watch these shows together, equally amazed and fascinated. Phil is awesome. He could make reading out the phone book sound interesting so what he does with the wonders of the universe is just terrific. Awe-inspiring and accessible, but each 12 min episode is packed with real as much actual knowledge and information as a 60 minute TV documentary which get bogged down with lots of, lets face it, completely extraneous shots of a a camera-friendly part-time astronomer gazing at the sky in feigned wonder 😛 Phil’s articles are the only ones that I have had to pause while I arrange the facts in my head! But that is a really GOOD thing 🙂 Anyway, thanks so much to Phil and the whole team. You have done a great thing here and it is hugely appreciated!
Astronomy is awesome, it tells everyone something we all need to hear; “You are small, you are next to to nothing compared to the universe. Finally, you, and all of your actions and choices, are incredibly, extremely, exceedingly, Important! Everything you do changes the universe.” We’d do best not to forget that.
This is beautiful. I study Visual Arts (filmmaking) but I LOoOOoOoVE Astronomy and science and my heart wants to learn more, so.. I LOVED this website, CrashCourse it’s just so beautiful, thank you all for making this. I am learning so much hehehehe. I got excited, lol. Thanks guys. God bless your souls UuU
I have interest in astronomy too but seriously i didn’t know most of the things this article told me. It deeply fascinates me, the sky, the stars and the moon! How bad i want to touch and go near to it. I want to see the universe, the beauties of nature. But I’m too scared of losing my interest. I have to start college this year and i surely have to choose a subject. I love physics and I’m good at Maths too, but not the best, it requires a lot of practice and that is what scares me. What if i suck at it? I want to work in an observatory, i want to look in the sky. I won’t be able to write any books though, i aint that confident on myself. I’m 16 and i really wanna know if i seem like i can do it.. I’m gonna start perusal all vids on it so that it improves my knowledge. ❤️ I hope i won’t fall weak. Ameen
This is so well produced!. Sound Quality, article Quality, Graphic Quality – Just perfect…. But Phil did the most wonderful work of putting the content across so well; bringing the content alive and engaging. PBS studios you are lighting that essential spark of curiosity in the minds of a viewer and sustaining it for a packed narration for 12 minutes… you have a skill which is very rare and very much in need throughout the world.
Super excited for this! I’m going to buy a telescope and eventually get in to astrophotography. What I mainly want to focus on is nebulae, galaxies and such. Does anyone have any tips on what to get? I already have a DSLR camera so I would preferably not buy an “astrocamera” (not sure what it’s called). My budget is at tops 500$. I’ll be happy to hear if anyone has an idea!
Thank you Phil for finally mentioning the Astrologers. There is a difference between Astronomers and Astrologers, this being that Astrologers aren’t as close minded as Astronomers, nor spend as much time trying to put down Astronomers, as those in your field, do about Astrologers. Most of us love to learn the Astronomy behind the Astrology to understand the physical Universe and have greater insights like the ancient greeks and Babylonian had in our understanding of the heavens and our place in the scope of it all, a divine science, as it was. Another sad difference is that although Astronomers are masters are creating telescopes and pointing at the vast universe to find it’s deepest secrets, they are limited in the scope of understanding the ancient Astrologers had about the “relationship” of what they study and the “effect and affect” of the heaven’s, our symbiology steeming from our “Astral DNA”. I hope one day, they realize they only have half the picture, and like a body, that needs both hands to have full motion, until you can understand the “true Astrology”, you will always have a limit view of the heavens, no matter how big your telescopes ge. I hope one day you will include in your list, “Astrologers” as well as you have done so by adding “Artist”.
When I’m older I really want a job in the science field. Science is something that fascinates me and I am really interested in how things work. Astronomy is down thing that I would like to get into because it really makes me question my life. I am only in high school right now and I have told my parents of my interest in a career that deals with science – specifically astronomy. I am an excellent student and pretty smart but my parents don’t believe that I could make a real career out of it. How hard was it to become an astronomer? And do you think I can make a career out of it?
This is an amazing Astronomy guide, and the quality of the entire thing is obviously top notch. I’m a geologist and at 1:44 when you say the Earth is mostly molten rock and metal, I have to clarify that there is very little molten rock in terms of volume of the whole planet. Magma is only formed near the surface where the pressure is low enough to allow it to expand into a liquid. But it’s also exposed to the coldness of Space, so it becomes solid relatively quickly. I have seen this misconception before so I thought I would mention it for anyone who would find it useful 🙂
I really enjoyed the article and I am planning on perusal the rest of the series. Also, this field of science is actually something I want to take seriously in my career path (as I want to be a physicist of some sort I haven’t work out the details) and I am glad to get a good source for learning about this awesome reality that I am a part of, outside of school. Thanks again for the article and keep up the good work.
Having been a dedicated viewer of CrashCourse articles for quite some time now, my curiosity has piqued. Could someone kindly enlighten me about the dialogue spoken in walkie talkie voice at the 0:12 second mark in the article when the featured content begins? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated!
I write comments about anything very rarely, but this series moved me to do just that. It’s really one of the best articles I saw in the whole time, including not only YouTube, but TV and shows as well, and I’m surprised that it’s not getting as much views as it deserves. It explained to me a lot of things about astronomy I didn’t quite understood before, though English is not my native language. I will definitely recommend this series to anyone who is able to watch it.
I’m fairly annoyed that Leibniz is never mentioned alongside with Newton. They both invented calculus independently by most accounts. Also, wtf means “we can only directly see 4% of the (observable?) universe”? (By definition, we can’t tell how huge (or infinite) our universe is beyond the traversed light.) I know this guy really knows what he’s talking about and I respect him for that, but this was a little murky for me.
I’m not religious and do not believe in a God and think evolution, space, universe and big bang are valid. But the best argument on evolution vs creationism I heard from a religious friend. She started of by saying that we simplify things when we explain things to small children, which of course is logical. So to people 3000 years ago billions of years would’ve been impossible to grasp God simplified the story of creationism from hundreds of billions of years to seven days to make it easier to grasp for the common human back to when Christianity originated.
This article came out in 2015. Since then the number of galaxies in the universe has increased, somewhat. According to Wikipedia at least 2 trillion galaxies exist at this time. I suspect this number will continue to grow as technology and our understanding increases over time, perhaps to an infinite number.
I’m going to go for astrophysics and astrology is extremely accurate if you know what your doing. Most people dont know astrology they know their sun sign but thats it. A birth chart which is necessary to read a person is extremely informative and helpful I changed my entire life through astrology. I am in love with astronomy and physics and astrophysics in specific but dont put down astrology just because it’s not sceince that does not mean it’s not accurate and valid. Religion isnt either so all religions are invalid? I would recommend actually studying it as I have been for 3 years along with kaballah and astronomy and astro physics according to kabbalistic literature astrology is very much real and in the old testament as well. Anyways I came here to learn astronomy I just found that a little annoying. But thanks for the info about astronomy 🙂 aries here!♈
I am so in love with space and all it has to offer. I want to learn all about it and hopefully work with it in the future. Physics is hard to understand sometimes, but it is so interesting nonetheless! I love the challenges and the math! I love how at the end all the little bits and pieces fall right into place, I love it!!!!
Really cool articles, and thanks! Just a little comment on the side: If “astronomy puts you in your place”, it should also put the little kindergarten-competitiveness between nations in its place. So I don’t really see why a book “America in Space” (and not “Humans in Space” or simply “Space”) is so prominently placed on the bottom right. As if the universe was, first of all, American. Then again, at least that book is at the bottom of a pile 🙂 Thanks again!
Phil i read your Blog regularity AGES ago. Then life got in the way and when I thought of it I couldn’t even remember what it was. So you can imagine how I was surprised when one day I watched scishow and there you were! So phsyced to watch this crash course series!!!! (Aaaaand now I sound like a groupie… 🙄)
New subscriber: I used to love perusal astronomy on tv, but I lost interest a few years ago. I’m trying to get back into a new hobby or two. I have nothing to talk about besides drinking, k- drama, and dancing. Its not much to say about me. I’m so excited. Its never to late to learn anything even at the age of 37.
I feel humbled by how plainly and amusingly Phil presents astronomy, a topic with complexity laid bare by the sheer volume of this course, which he barrels through without bypassing fascinating scientific and historical detail. The real star is the writing, evidently all of which is Phil’s creation. At no point does the narrative become dry, and in many parts bleeds from prose to poetry. If anything, Phil is overqualified to teach astronomy; with such a gift for expression he could act Shakespeare or work in international diplomacy. This course is an absolute gift.
Whenever we go to provinces. I will always visit the shore, where there are almost no lights at all. And look at the sky to see stars. At one point, I literally saw the images i see on google whenever i search for galaxy. “So what i am seeing right now is the edge of our galaxy.” I was totally amazed
I love reading the comments from 7 years ago. Back when the YouTube community was relatively simple, people made comments pertaining to the article. Nowadays, even the highest quality articles will just receive meme comments. Not that these are bad, but they’re just so repetitive and sometimes don’t elicit the appreciation that the creator deserves. Anyway, what an astounding article! I want to become an astrophysicist in the future, and this article really captures the main way scientists study deep-sky objects. It makes me motivated!
so isn’t it light and eyes exist at same time. without light no eyes or without eyes no light, same goes to other senses.so isnt it eveything is connected. we can’t give proper answers because we cane navigate through separation,what if there is no five senses or thinking(because we can only think based on sapration and its important for nevigate in our world),what is beyond it, isn’t it its not possible because whatever think or find like science,history,evey knowledge is from our five senses and thinking,we separet things because this is the only way we can nevigate otherwise there is no answer like when we sleep,before birth and after death there is nothing we can talk about becouse in this position separation ends. thats why we can’t say something is nothing or somthing is infinite, there is no end in micro level to macro level if we see things by mind(thought),thats why it says non dual means not one becouse if one exit then other also exist and if dual then there is no end, so saying non dual is best way to describe it.we literally cant go beyond that thats why it sayes self knowledge is end of all knowledge. isn’t it what we are calling ourself is only important to survive in this world and we can say ourself why our thoughts but if we see deeply we are everything or nothing(you see everything and nothing is also separation) its like magnet,they both exist at sametime. by using this terms in better way we can nevigate in this world efficiently like if we eat too much its create problem for us and same goes if we eat to less so isn’t in management, moderation,balance is best way of living life till the death.
Like we cannot see things in outer space without the right equipment, I want to believe that there are things we cannot hear in outer space. Not with human ears, anyway. Consider the dog whistle. Maybe earth is like a songbird in the forest of the universe, and the humans on the hiking trail can’t hear us.
Picture at 2:05 was done by someone who doesn’t know where to look for rainbows. After a thunderstorm if you want to see if there is a rainbow in the sky, turn your back to the sun so you can see the shadow of your head or where your heads shadow would be if the sun is really low on the horizon. Then look out from the shadow of your eyes about 25 degrees, generally, and there you will be able to see if the conditions are right for a rainbow. This also works for the kinds of rainbows you can make with a garden hose set to mist. Point is, the big ones typically associated with the sun shining through the clouds after a rainstorm, appear opposite the sun in the sky, this picture has the sun and the rainbow in the same portion. Of course, I don’t expect most artists to know or incorporate these sorts of details in their art.