Scientists from Japan reported in April 2013 that they were able to calculate the exact diameter of the Sun. In North America and parts of Asia, an annular eclipse was observed at this time. For the calculations, the effect of the “Bailey rosary” was used. The effect is formed in the initial and final phase of the eclipse.
At this time, the edges of the disks of both luminaries - the Sun and the Moon, coincide. But the relief of the moon has many irregularities, so sunlight passes through them in the form of bright red dots. According to a special system, astronomers calculate data and determine the circumference of the solar disk.
Comparison of the data obtained during the eclipse at different observatories in Japan, as well as the existing calculations and observations obtained, including from the Japanese lunar probe, made it possible to calculate the most accurate solar diameter at the moment. According to them, it is equal to 1 million 392 thousand 20 kilometers.
For many years, all the astronomers of the world have solved this problem. But a too bright star did not allow measurements of its diameter, so the star the Sun has not yet been measured. Observing the turbulent changes, studying the solar phenomena, scientists nevertheless moved forward in the study of this bright and very important star for us.
At its core, the sun is a ball composed of a gas mixture. This is the main source of energy of the Sun, which sends us light and heat. They travel a path of one and a half hundred million kilometers until some of their share reaches the Earth. If all his energy overcame atmospheric resistance, then in one minute two grams of water would raise the temperature by one degree. In earlier times, this value was taken as a constant solar number, but later fluctuations in
solar activity were detected
, and geophysicists began to constantly monitor the temperature of water in special test tubes installed under direct sunlight. By multiplying this value by the radius of the distance, the value of its radiation is obtained.
Until now, the diameter of the Sun was calculated using the value of the distance from the Earth to the star and the apparent angular value of its diameter. Thus, an approximate number of 1 million 390 thousand 600 kilometers was obtained. Then the scientists divided the radiation value calculated by them by the surface value and as a result received the luminous strength per square meter. centimeter.
So it was found that the strength of its luminescence exceeds the glow of molten platinum tens of times. Now imagine that the Earth receives only a very, very small part of this energy. But nature is designed so that this energy on earth is amplified.
For example, the sun's rays warm the air. As a result of the temperature difference, it begins to move, creating a wind that also gives energy, rotates the turbine blades. Another part heats the water that feeds the earth, another part is absorbed by the flora and fauna. A little solar heat goes to the formation of coal and peat, oil. After all, natural chemical reactions also need a heat source.
The energy of this star is very important for earthlings, therefore, the successes of scientists from Japan, who managed to get a more accurate diameter of the Sun, are considered a very important discovery.