Using the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO) to Determine the Rotation of the Sun

Abstract

The goal of this science project is to use the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory satellite (SOHO) to determine the rotation of the sun. SOHO launched on December 2, 1995 as a joint effort by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In your reading you will learn about the basic physics of the sun, and how a star differs from planets like the Earth. For example, the Sun has a north and south pole, just as the Earth does, and rotates on its axis. However, unlike Earth, which rotates at all latitudes every 24 hours, the Sun rotates at a different speed at the equator than it does at the poles. This is known as differential rotation. In this project you would use the images of the sun that SOHO beams to Earth and places on the Internet every day, along with a spherical grid to track the rotation of sunspots. You will use the data you collect to determine the rotational speed of the sun at different distances from the equator.

Estimated Cost: $0

Difficulty: Students currently in 7th grade or higher.