sunspotactivityduringthemonthofmay2001.docVIP

SUNSPOT ACTIVITY DURING THE MONTH OF MAY 2001 By Meagan Carmichael June 3, 2001 Purpose: I am observing sunspots on the sun to determine how long each sunspot lasts, the direction sunspots travel on the surface of the sun, and how often new sunspots appear. I am also researching why sunspots occur at all and how the sunspot cycle affects the weather on Earth. Lastly, I want to learn how ancient cultures observed and explained sunspots and find out if they were a significant factor in religion or rituals. I chose to watch the sun because it is a mysterious creature to me, and because it is the most convenient object to observe. We know how the sun produces energy, but we are not quite sure why sunspots appear or why they travel in an 11 year cycle of maximums and minimums. We know sunspots affect weather on Earth, but how much? Can a sunspot maximum produce enough radiation that humans will be more vulnerable to skin cancer? How do sunspots affect the ozone layer? I am interested in answering all of these questions. I have enjoyed this project so far because I am learning from my own observations and data. I have drawn connections between what I am seeing and what I have read, along with knowledge I have gathered over the course of this class. I knew virtually nothing about the sun when I began this project, and I am pleased with my progress. Background: The sun has played an extremely important role in ancient cultures since human beings have walked the planet. Its names are many; Osiris, Ormazd, Apollo, Phoebus, Ammon-Ra, Helios, Surya, etc… (Encyclopedic Theosophical Glossary 18). It is the provider of life, and it is often contrasted with the moon. The sun and the moon represent light and dark, good and evil, ying and yang; they provide a sense of balance throughout the universe, or at least here on Earth. Deities are often associated with either the sun or the moon, and certain deities display characteristics of each. However, unlike the m