Football Fans Can See Solar Show Prior to UA Homecoming Game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Talk about a nifty pregame show.

Prior to University of Alabama and Vanderbilt University football players facing off inside Bryant-Denny Stadium Oct. 8, fans are invited to peer through UA telescopes on the Quad at a solar show.

The public is invited to look through UA telescopes to view sunspots and solar prominences – which sometimes appear as flames leaping off the sun’s surface – between noon and 5 p.m. on the Quad, just west of Denny-Chimes.

UA’s department of physics and astronomy will set up two telescopes near the College of Arts and Sciences’ tent, said Dr. William Keel, professor of astronomy at UA.

“Solar prominences are enormous regions above the visible surface of the sun where the gases and magnetic fields act together to make the hydrogen glow in visible light,” Keel said. “They may look like flames, loops or trees and are many times the size of the Earth.”

Solar filters used with the telescopes make such viewing safe, Keel said.

An 8-inch Celestron telescope, donated to UA by Tuscaloosa resident, Joshua Holmes, will be used, as will a Coronado H-alpha telescope, giving participants two views.

“Viewers can compare the views side-by-side and immediately see that the sun is much more dynamic and complex than they may have heard,” Keel said.

Additional public sky viewings planned for this fall are:

Friday, Oct. 21, 7-10 p.m. – Nebulae and star clusters from the Moundville site. Hosted by Keel and Dr. Ron Buta, the viewing will use three telescopes on pads in a field across the road from the Moundville Archaeological Park Museum.

Friday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. – The moon and Jupiter. Viewing atop Gallalee Hall, hosted by Dr. Jimmy Irwin.

Friday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. – Jupiter and the moon. Viewing atop Gallalee Hall, hosted by Dr. Phil Hardee.

All sky viewings are contingent upon the weather. Cloudy skies are not conducive to viewing.

For more information about scheduled events, phone 205/348-5050 or go online to http://astronomy.ua.edu/Public.html

UA’s department of physics and astronomy is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.