All Questions
981 questions
2
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Why does the sunrise time at a particular location at a particular date change abruptly over the years?
According to NOAA Solar Calculator, the sunrise times on 12th January at latitude 22.532853 and longitude 88.3740234 are as follows over the years. Can you please explain the sudden jumps? Thanks.
...
- 51
0
votes
4
answers
231
views
Does the Sun drag space after it as it spins?
I am trying to explain why Mercury's orbit precesses more than expected, to children, in plain English, in simple terms, they can actually understand, without invoking GR, which they cannot possibly ...
user54537
-6
votes
1
answer
147
views
What constellation was the sun on in August 5, 2001 BC
In what constellation was the sun on August 5, 2001 BC
26
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why does Jupiter spin so fast but not the Sun?
The mainstream interpretation is that when Jupiter was being formed from a giant disk of gas and dust, the conservation of angular momentum dictated that it spun faster as it grew smaller.
At the same ...
- 379
5
votes
1
answer
160
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Helium in solar spectra
It appears that N.R. Pogson was the first to observe in the solar spectrum a line of an element that later became known as helium. This was an emission line in the spectrum of the chromosphere during ...
- 161
0
votes
1
answer
151
views
How to Know if the sun is circumpolar or never rises?
I made a tool to get Noon, Sunrise, and Sunset times But sometimes errors appear like at:
Lat: N 67°8'5.07''
Long: W 121°10'17.93'
Date: 2024/06/14 15:07 (UTC-7)
Because there is no sunrise or sunset ...
- 133
0
votes
1
answer
72
views
Incorrect Solar Data Output Using SPICE Toolkit
I'm a noob at astronomy, but I needed to calculate a very simple theoretical solar irradiance and luminance. With the help of LLMs, I came up with a C++ script, but the output doesn't look correct. I'...
0
votes
1
answer
171
views
The intensity of sunlight
How can the intensity of sunlight throughout the day be calculated in comparison to its maximum intensity (at noon) using the solar altitude under natural conditions? By it's equations or python.
By &...
- 133
4
votes
1
answer
362
views
Equation of Time (derivation Analemma)
In the document available here:
http://info.ifpan.edu.pl/firststep/aw-works/fsII/mul/mueller.pdf
I have been able so far to reproduce all missing details so far to the relation (33) of page 7:
$$\sin ...
- 233
-4
votes
1
answer
64
views
Questions about sun (Disk, Shadow, Light color temperature) [closed]
When or at what altitude does the sun completely disappear from view?
When does the effect of the sun on objects facing it begin, for example, the formation of shadows when sunlight hits objects? ...
- 133
1
vote
1
answer
335
views
What are the estimated dates for destruction of planets by the Sun in the distant future?
The Sun will eventually be larger than today billions of years from now. What are the precise estimated dates for every planet to be destroyed by the Sun?
user59421
9
votes
1
answer
125
views
Can I Check the Suns Position Relative to Earth For an Eclipse by Going Two Years Early?
Scout Leader here, so I'm no expert on the Solar System, hence the need for some friendly advice please.
I'd like to organise a camp on August 12th in Soria, Spain (specifically here) to take around ...
- 201
3
votes
0
answers
189
views
What is going on with C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS!
Recent articles seem to suggest it may be disintegrating but I am confused as to the confidence of this prediction and as to how bright the comet will be at its peak before dimming and disintegrating.
...
- 225
2
votes
0
answers
40
views
What causes the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) Effect? Virtual Z bosons?
What causes the neutrinos to oscillate more often or rapidly? Are they being “bounced around” by Z bosons in the intense furnace of the Sun? Is it due to an intense weak current?
- 5,585
5
votes
0
answers
102
views
Accurate angluar diameter calculations of the Moon and the Sun
I'm looking for two accurate calculations for the perceived angular diameter of the Moon and the Sun, for a given observer (of known latitude and longitude) at a given moment in time (UTC).
I ...
1
vote
2
answers
87
views
Should I convert local time to UTC when computing the sun's position?
I'm trying to compute the sun's altitude and azimuth but should I convert the wanted local time to UTC by the time zone id? like in Saudi Arabia it uses AST (UTC +3 All the time) and Egypt uses EEST (...
- 133
2
votes
0
answers
74
views
Does the sun's rotating core have a bulge in it like the Earth does at the equator and has this been measured?
The rotating Earth bulges at the equator.But what about the rotating core of our sun ? Does this behave similarly? Can the magnitude of the bulge be measured or deduced from neutrino emissions for ...
user57831
6
votes
1
answer
104
views
How did the Local Interstellar Cloud form?
The Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) is a low-density interstellar cloud which embed the Sun and other stars.
How did this region form? I suppose a supernova or stellar winds from multiple stars may ...
- 716
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Always orient a sundial towards polar north?
I had a horizontal sundial made specially for my latitude (approx. 38° N). The default correct way to orient a sundial (in the northern hemisphere) is with the gnomon pointing towards polar north. The ...
- 221
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Can a star be made of sun spots?
Can there be a star that is made of the same matter of our sun spots? What would the illumination be like?
0
votes
1
answer
118
views
Distance from Earth to Sun averaging method in AU definition
Historically, $1~\text{AU}$ is defined as $1/2(r_{min}+r_{max})$, but the problem is that this is not the average radius if Earth orbit would be transformed into circle, with Sun at the center and ...
0
votes
2
answers
157
views
Do all photons coming out of the Sun go out radially?
I am trying to understand why we can assume that all light rays from the Sun are in parallel.
user54537
8
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Is it theoretically possible for the Sun to go dark?
If photons potentially take millions/billions of years to find their way to the surface of the Sun from the core, bouncing off billions of other atoms on their way. Is it theoretically possible to ...
- 123
3
votes
1
answer
164
views
Why does the moon have a similar angular velocity around earth as the sun has around its centre?
Is this coincidence or something more? Did the moon and core form in similar ways?
user56626
-1
votes
1
answer
242
views
Can anyone tell me what is next to the sun?
I took a 4second shot the light was to bright, even tho I could see the planets alignment on my samsung galaxy ASTRO photography I took these picture on June 2 northeast where I stay. If you can see a ...
-9
votes
3
answers
177
views
Why when i divide the distance of sun to earth by golden ratio, the result starts with the last 5 digits of speed of light? [closed]
When i divide 149597870700m:1.618, i get (92458)510939, the last 5 digits of speed of light, 2997(92458)?
3
votes
1
answer
376
views
Does the coriolis force help shape the magnetic field of the sun?
The rotation of the Earth deflects ocean currents and winds. The sun rotates but does the rotation deflect moving plasma and affect the suns magnetic field?
user56626
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What can be learned from viewing the sun on earth during a total eclipse that cannot be studied by spacecraft in orbit?
I understand that total eclipses are a fantastic time to study the sun's corona, and the reason for this is because the much brighter photosphere is blocked by the moon. But, couldn't the Parker solar ...
- 1,180
3
votes
1
answer
67
views
Most established length of Gleissberg Cycle
What is the most commonly used length for the Gleissberg Cycle of sunspots? I have reviewed academic literature on the subject and the lengths used are all over the place. Specifically, anywhere in ...
20
votes
8
answers
11k
views
How did the ancient cultures determine that the year was actually a fraction of an extra day beyond 365 days?
Google says the year is exactly 365.2422 days, and so they make a leap year every 4th year, but that ends up being 365.25 days per year on average. So every 100th year they don't have a leap year, but ...
- 451
1
vote
0
answers
56
views
What is the difference between a solar eclipse's (a) magnitude and the (b) moon/sun size ratio?
After watching a Smarter Every Day 2 YouTube video featuring Gordon Telepun, I purchased his ebook Eclipse Day 2024 and More off the Google Play store. In the book, he has a link to Xavier Jubier’s ...
- 1,180
3
votes
1
answer
158
views
Are these craters on the moon during eclipse
can somebody confirm that what im looking at are craters on the moon? This was taken during the 2024 eclipse from illinois with my S24 ultra iso250 115mm -2.0ev F3.4 speed 1/10000. thanks
- 41
2
votes
0
answers
82
views
Closest/farthest point where the sun stops being the brightest star?
Which is the closest point to the Sun where it's not the brightest star anymore?
My intuition is that this is either on a direct line between the Sun and Alpha Centauri, or between the Sun and Sirius ...
1
vote
2
answers
120
views
Is It Possible to See the Sun's Corona Appearing to Flare Out From Behind the Moon During a Total Solar Eclipse?
I am not an astronomer, but witnessed the last two US total solar eclipses -- the first from a farm in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on August 21, 2017, and the second last Monday from Klyde Warren Park in ...
- 11
16
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Why is there a year 1 B.C., a year 0, and a year 1 A.D. in NASA’s Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses?
I was looking through NASA’s Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses, and I am really confused by the fact that there is a year -1, 0, and 1. I was always taught that there was no year 0, that we just ...
- 1,180
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
Is there a known magnitude of the sun that needs to be covered for the diamond ring effect or Bailey’s beads to occur?
During a total solar eclipse, there is this brief, roughly 1-20 seconds during which some absolutely incredible, indescribable phenomenon occurs. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. They ...
- 1,180
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
Is it possible for both transition points in a hybrid eclipse to occur so close together they can be seen from the same spot on earth?
There are 4 categories of eclipses. There are partial, annular, total, and hybrid eclipses. In a partial eclipse, part of the moon covers the earth casting its penumbra on earth. Judging from my ...
- 1,180
0
votes
0
answers
28
views
Is there any way to know how much time of totality is experienced during a hybrid eclipse in NASA’s 5 Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses?
I was just looking through NASA’s 5 Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses. It’s really a fantastic list, having the max time of totality and all. I was trying to figure out what the maximum amount of ...
- 1,180
3
votes
2
answers
329
views
The sun path angle of elevation
It is well known that the formula for the sun path azimuth $\alpha_\text{s}$ (assuming that $\alpha_\text{s} = 0$ for noon) is
$$\alpha_\text{s}(\gamma_\text{s}) = \arccos \frac{\sin\gamma_\text{s} \, ...
- 135
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Why are the solar prominences visible during a total solar eclipse - orange? Is the sun orange?
This question is really about the color of the sun. But NOT about its color at sunrise or sunset.
When I search for the color of the sun, I find dozens of articles, including many on SE, stating that ...
- 403
4
votes
0
answers
99
views
Sun and moon same angular radius - how unlikely is this? [duplicate]
How many planets do we expect, statistically, in the universe, have a sun and a moon with such a similar angular diameter as we do on earth? How many habitable planets? Is it possible to calculate ...
- 701
4
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1
answer
159
views
Unknown satellite transit during solar eclipse on April 8, 2024
While viewing the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse from Jackson, MO, when the moon had eclipsed about 20% of the sun (the bottom-right part), my friend and I both observed with our naked eyes (behind solar ...
- 143
15
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What caused pink flares during the eclipse
During the solar eclipse totality, I noticed pink lights on the rim around the moon. In a telescope, they were obviously flare like. Id like to know what causes them to have that color. Not knowing ...
- 605
3
votes
2
answers
638
views
Will Earth become a gas giant when the Sun expands in 5 billion years?
Because if the Sun expands to 1 AU or very close to it, its density and hold on outer layers will be much weaker so a dense object like the Earth can slowly absorb material because Earth would be much ...
- 344
1
vote
1
answer
127
views
How can I plot a rotary cam for the equation of time? [closed]
I'd like to use Solidworks to create a cam (peanut looking) for computing the equation of time in a pocket watch. Would appreciate any point to the right direction or advice.
Audemars Piguet EoT
8
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Can a lunar eclipse happen at night and be followed by a solar eclipse the next day?
Is it possible for a lunar eclipse to occur during the night and then be followed by a solar eclipse the next day? Could these two events happen consecutively, and if so, how rare is this phenomenon?
- 105
1
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2
answers
164
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What objects (if any) are there above or below the ecliptic, or just vaccum/gases
Per the ecliptic
Plane of the Solar System. Most of the planets orbit the Sun very
nearly in the same plane in which Earth orbits, the ecliptic
So, what I am imagining is that there is a imaginary ...
- 627
14
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Earth is Tilted, but in reference to What Object / relative to what?
I am asking basic question on trying to understand on tilt. I know if I (as a human) tilt when standing on feet, my tilt will be in relation to gravity.
For Earth, I am not able to understand, what is ...
- 627
9
votes
5
answers
3k
views
At 45°N, how come the Sun rises in a northeasterly direction?
As per title, I'm having trouble understanding how it's possible for a person at 45°N to see the Sun rising in a northeasterly direction for 6 months of the year. Even during the summer solstice, the ...
- 231
6
votes
2
answers
855
views
Calculating Earth-Sun distance only using trigonometry and terrestrial measurements
I have an interest in mathematics and astronomy, and my curiosity was piqued by the methodologies employed in contemporary solar distance measurement. Current practices use sophisticated instruments ...
- 163