Why every observatory needs a disco ball (original) (raw)
ADS
;
- Pietrow, Alexander G. M. ;
- Pietrow, Livia ;
- Cavallius, Maria ;
- Petit dit de la Roche, Dominique ;
- Pietrow, Casper ;
- Schroetter, Ilane ;
- Skan, Moa
Abstract
Commercial disco balls provide a safe, effective and instructive way of observing the Sun. We explore the optics of solar projections with disco balls, and find that while sunspot observations are challenging, the solar disk and its changes during eclipses are easy and fun to observe. We explore the disco ball's potential for observing the moon and other bright astronomical phenomena.
Publication:
Physics Education
Pub Date:
March 2024
DOI:
arXiv:
Bibcode:
Keywords:
- the Sun;
- pinhead mirrors;
- pinhole optics;
- solar eclipses;
- astronomy;
- informal learning;
- Physics - Physics Education;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics;
- Physics - Popular Physics
E-Print:
6 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to Physics Education. Comments welcome