see the sun? how?

pinhole sun viewers, solar filter film, a "sun spotter" telescope, and even a reflecting (newtonian) telescope are in full swing to view the sun in the 2nd class meeting this week.  We'll spend more time working on conversions using light speed, A.U.s, and distances in space, and explain the workings of a telescope - and different kinds which solve various problems with viewing the sky.
Some classes will finish with enough time to watch some fun They Might Be Giants "here comes science" videos.
There should be no doubt of what a sunspot looks like after you get to see it firsthand, and we'll take mini-trips to track the sunspots we've found over the next few classes (my classes have not seen any sunspots in the past 4 years that I've taken them outside to look!!!)  Neat to see a more "active" sun.
NASA STEREO view of the sun webpage
NASA Current view of the sun webpage  <-- see REAL TIME images of the sun!!! ...from the Solar Helical Observatory Telescope (SOHO)  (see below too)

Above:  Today's sun (visible light)

Below:  Showing wavelengths of light at 1 million degrees C.  This is the sun's corona (atmosphere) and is brighter where there is more activity on the sun's surface.

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