The Sun: A Star in Our Own Backyard

The stars in the night sky have always been a source of intrigue and wonder. With our very own star at the center of our solar system, the Sun offers us a unique opportunity to study the inner workings of these giant balls of plasma. Starting at the core, I will discuss the processes occurring at the different layers of the Sun: From sunspots observed in the photosphere, which vary characteristically with the solar cycle, to explosive flares and coronal mass ejections, which release huge amounts of energy into the corona. Finally I will talk about the effect these eruptive events have on the Earth's atmosphere, and how the particles accelerated at the Sun produce the displays of lights known as the Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Australis.

Speaker: Hazel Bain, UC  Berkeley

Room 100