What if the Sun Stopped Shining?
- Joyce Guzik, LANL
We take for granted that the sun will rise and set each day to warm us and light our world. The sun’s shining appears to have been nearly constant during recorded history. The Earth’s weather, its seasons, and the movement of its oceans are dependent on the constant input of energy from the Sun. However, our experience suggests that nothing remains unchanging forever. Presumably there was a time when the Sun didn’t exist, and there will be a time when it will stop shining. But how do we know anything about the sun? What is the sun’s composition, and how did it form? How do we know what is going on in the sun’s interior, and what is responsible for its energy generation? How does this energy escape to reach the Earth? What is the evidence that it was once much dimmer than today, but that before its ultimate death its intensity will increase so much that the oceans will boil, and life on Earth will come to an end? If this is really the fate of the sun and the Earth, is there anything we could do about it? Come to a lively Cafe that will explore the many fascinating aspects of our own star.
It is a challenge to pull out of my life story the reasons why I became a scientist. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and attended public schools. My parents didn't finish high school, and almost no-one I knew personally had a college degree. Most of my classmates had little interest in academic pursuits.
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Albuquerque
Café
February 13
6:00 - 7:30 PM
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Discovery
February 20
Museum planetarium of the NM Museum of Natural History and Science
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Española/Pojoaque
Café
February 10
2:30 - 4:00 PM
Northern New Mexico College, Fine Arts Amphitheater
Discovery
February 18
Field trip to Albuquerque National Weather Service
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Los Alamos
Café
February 20
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Bradbury Science Museum
Discovery
February 28
Discussion and debate at the UNMLA Lecture Hall
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Santa Fe
Café
February 7
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Santa Fe Community College, Jemez 1 room
Discovery
Feb 21
Star gazing and a preview of the March Climate panel
Santa Fe Community College, Jemez 3 room
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Café Presentation
pdf
What if the Sun Stopped Shining?
Star Power This article from the New Yorker answer a question submitted from a reader about why the sun is not composed of heavier elements.
Mr Eclipse.com Explains the total eclipse of the moon that will occur on February 20, 2008.