Observing the red Giant: A Personal Journey Through the Cosmos
From the age of 14, I've been captivated by science. The evolution of science, along with the growth of engineering and technology, has fascinated me, influencing lives not just on Earth but reaching into the cosmos. It was at this tender age that I first learned about the Voyager missions, sparking my lifelong curiosity as they journeyed toward interstellar space. While much of my scientific and technological knowledge is self-taught, I am forever indebted to the public libraries of Chennai, which were instrumental in expanding my horizons.
The sky and cosmos have always intrigued me. However, as often happens in the turmoil of adolescence, my path veered towards engineering. There, I discovered the wonders of Mechanics—a subject that I delved into with endless questions, though not always receiving satisfactory answers. A beautiful subject that practically explains the physics around us. My educational journey may have been marred by criticism, but it never dampened my enthusiasm for connecting academic theories with real-world applications. This passion was particularly ignited by differential calculus, which fascinated me with its applications in calculating times of death, bacterial growth, and more.
Despite these varied academic pursuits, the focus of this article is not my personal experiences. Instead, this is my first public foray into writing about a specific scientific subject: the Sun. Having published research papers on structural engineering, I am thrilled to share my observations and insights into the world of science and technology with a wider audience.
The Sun: Earth's Astronomical Beacon
For those of us on Earth, the Sun is undoubtedly the most significant astronomical object. Ancient civilizations recognized this and learned to track the patterns of the Sun, which led to a deeper understanding of phenomena like solar eclipses. Thales of Miletus, credited with predicting the first solar eclipse, marked the beginning of solar studies (1). One of the most fascinating aspects of these studies is the observation of sunspots, which not only offer a glimpse into the Sun's moods but also have profound implications for life on Earth.
What Are Sunspots?
Sunspots are cooler, darker patches on the sun's surface, or photosphere, where intense magnetic activity ramps up the drama. These spots are cooler than other parts of the sun because they form at areas where magnetic fields are so strong that they inhibit the heat from rising to the surface.
Why They Matter?
Sunspots are more than just solar speckles. They serve as indicators of the sun's internal magnetic activity and are harbingers of solar weather that can send waves of energetic particles towards Earth, affecting everything from satellites to power grids.
To capture this celestial spectacle, I used my 8” Dobsonian Telescope with a dedicated solar filter to protect against the intense solar rays. The settings were meticulously adjusted to ensure each sunspot was crisply defined against the radiant backdrop of the sun’s surface.
I also tried capturing the sun with my Sony α6100 camera. Just like human eyes, camera lenses will also get damaged with the direct exposure and focus to Sun. Moreover, capturing with a camera requires patience and precision. The challenge lies not only in the timing but also in tweaking the exposure to reveal the intricate details of each spot without being overwhelmed by the sun’s brilliance. But watching these dark giants dance on the solar surface is both humbling and exhilarating. Each observation session deepens my appreciation for the delicate balance of cosmic forces.
In the above gallery, notice the image taken on August 02, 2024. The details in the image shows increased “Sun Spots”. The current Solar Cycle (Cycle 25) is at its peak known as “Solar Maximum”. The increase in Solar activities such as Sun Spots, Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections leads to more frequent and intense auroras on earth. This also brings higher flux of electromagnetic energy impacting the earth.