Timeline of solar astronomy
Okay kiddo, let’s start with the basics - what is solar astronomy? It’s all about studying the sun and its behavior. Scientists have been observing the sun for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the invention of telescopes in the 17th century that we could start looking at it more closely.
So, let’s go through the timeline of solar astronomy!
1609 - The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei made the first telescopic observations of the sun.
1611 - Johannes Kepler suggested the sun rotates on its axis.
1666 - Isaac Newton formulated his laws of motion and gravity, which provided a better understanding of the physics of the sun.
1843 - Heinrich Schwabe discovered the 11-year solar cycle, which is the regular pattern of changes in the sun’s magnetic field.
1859 - Richard Carrington observed the first solar flare, a sudden eruption of energy on the sun’s surface.
1904 - George Ellery Hale proposed that the sun’s energy came from nuclear reactions in its core.
1949 - The first rocket-borne telescope was launched, allowing astronomers to study the sun’s atmosphere in more detail.
1958 - The first satellite specifically designed to study the sun, Explorer 1, was launched.
1980s - The Solar Maximum Mission satellite was launched, allowing for continuous observations of the sun during a period of high solar activity.
1990s-2000s - The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) were launched, providing detailed images and data on the sun’s activity.
2020 - NASA's Parker Solar Probe was launched to study the sun's atmosphere and learn more about the solar wind.
So, as you can see, solar astronomy has come a long way since Galileo first looked at the sun through his telescope. With advancements in technology and ongoing research, we are constantly learning more about our closest star and its impact on our planet.
So, let’s go through the timeline of solar astronomy!
1609 - The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei made the first telescopic observations of the sun.
1611 - Johannes Kepler suggested the sun rotates on its axis.
1666 - Isaac Newton formulated his laws of motion and gravity, which provided a better understanding of the physics of the sun.
1843 - Heinrich Schwabe discovered the 11-year solar cycle, which is the regular pattern of changes in the sun’s magnetic field.
1859 - Richard Carrington observed the first solar flare, a sudden eruption of energy on the sun’s surface.
1904 - George Ellery Hale proposed that the sun’s energy came from nuclear reactions in its core.
1949 - The first rocket-borne telescope was launched, allowing astronomers to study the sun’s atmosphere in more detail.
1958 - The first satellite specifically designed to study the sun, Explorer 1, was launched.
1980s - The Solar Maximum Mission satellite was launched, allowing for continuous observations of the sun during a period of high solar activity.
1990s-2000s - The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) were launched, providing detailed images and data on the sun’s activity.
2020 - NASA's Parker Solar Probe was launched to study the sun's atmosphere and learn more about the solar wind.
So, as you can see, solar astronomy has come a long way since Galileo first looked at the sun through his telescope. With advancements in technology and ongoing research, we are constantly learning more about our closest star and its impact on our planet.