We plan to observe sunspots at different times and places and report our findings to NASA through the Citizen Science project SunLab. Sunspots are dark spots on the surface of the sun. Relatively speaking, they’re cooler than the surrounding photosphere. During a sunspot cycle, the Sun can appear brighter, which affects the amount of heat projected toward the earth. Sunspot activity also affects the amount of solar wind and magnetic disturbance, which may influence satellite communication. I believe that this project, however small its effect may be, may help the global communications network.

Given how relatively hectic our respective schedules are, we tentatively decided on an initial observation date at the Catskill Mountains on November 9th. One of my responsibilities is to research ways to observe sunspots safely, such as using binoculars or telescopes to project an image of the sun onto a white surface, where it can be safely sketched. Given the inherently visual nature of our project, we decided to present a documentary as our final digital deliverable. We’d go over what sunspots are, how they affect the earth, our findings, and our journey along the way. Science, as a inquisitive process, affects the investigator, so I’d like to see how our perspectives on the sun and informal science learning change as a result of this experiment. Documentaries are perfect for this, as they allow for an intimate relationship between viewer and narrator, and unparalleled insight into the mindset of the investigator.