If you ever want to observe the Sun, DON'T watch it directly; it is way to bright and may harm your eyes. Also, DON'T look at it directly through a telescope or binoculars; that's even more dangerous. You can project an image, with a telescope, onto a sheet of paper or some other white object.
the sun and the cameras
the sun and the cameras
In the stars (including our sun)
No planet so far observed or detected is that far from the Sun. The furthest planet so far observed is Neptune at about 30 AU.
the sun!
Your Foot!
dancing on moon
Both lunar and solar eclipses are the result of positioning 3 astronomical bodies (earth, sun and moon) in a straight line relative to the observer. A solar eclipse is observed when the sun, moon, and earth are positioned in a straight line with an observer on the earth. A lunar eclipse is observed when the sun, earth, and moon are in a straight line with an observer on the earth. A lunar eclipse, as observed by an observer on the earth would appear as a solar eclipse as observed by an observer on the moon.
Photosphere, chromosphere, and corona
Actually, the solar corona can be observed at ANY time, if you have the proper equipment. This device, called a coronagraph, creates its own eclipses by blocking the direct light from the Sun and allowing the corona to be observed. The problem is that the Sun is so insanely brilliant that things that are merely "a little bright" are invisible in comparison. When the Moon blocks the direct view of the Sun, then the corona (which is much larger) is finally able to be seen.
Galileo looked at the sun and observed dark blemishes on its surface (which are now called sunspots). From the movement of these blemishes, he was able to determine that the sun has a rotation period of about one month.
Helium was first observed in the sun. Hence it gets its name from the Greek word, helios, meaning the sun.