A lecture about the Sun
On 5 July, last Sunday’s afternoon, I had an opportunity to give a lecture to about 30 teachers who are teaching science to students at their junior high school or high school. A study course called “Let’s give classes with looking up the Sun” was held as the 1st of course series “Learning science with looking up the space” (sponsored by Vixen, Inc., planned by Liveanest, Inc.). According to the planner, the number of the teachers who wanted to attend became over the capacity within only three weeks after starting its advitisement. I was very happy to hear that so many teachers were interested in it.
7月５日日曜日午後、中学・高校の理科の先生方約３０名が参加した教員研修会に、太陽についての話をするために招かれた。「宇宙を見上げて科学を学ぼう」（ビクセン主催、リバネス企画）という企画の第１回目「太陽を見上げて授業をしよう」です。募集開始からわずか３週間ほどで予定人数を超え、キャンセル待ちになったとのこと。関心をもってもらいありがたいです。
My lecture consisted of three topics; The recent Sun is slightly strange? Latest views of the Sun with Hinode’s observations, and solar eclipse on July 22. The Hinode’s talk focused on the coronal heating problem, i.e., why the hot corona exists above the cool surface? I was very happy to introduce a part of latest solar researches to school teachers. I also enjoyed conversations with teachers. One question from a high school teacher; The sunspot is dark so lower temperature, but why so active compared to other area? He said that this question was given by a student a long time ago, but this question is a reasonable question from students.
さて、私の話は、「最近の太陽がちょっと変？」「ひのでがとらえた最新の太陽像」そして「７月２２日の皆既・部分日食」についてです。「ひので」の話は、なぜ高温コロナが太陽表面にあるのかという「コロナ加熱」についての話。一生懸命にメモを取って真剣に私の話を聞いていただき、また話の後にいろいろな質問を頂き、いろいろと話ができ、「最新の太陽研究」について教育現場の先生方に少しでも紹介できてよかったと思います。ある先生から頂いた質問。「黒点は暗くて温度が低いのに、なぜ活動的な場所なのか」。以前生徒に質問されて答えに窮したそうですが、もっともな疑問ですよね。
Watching the Sun with the eclipse glasses
Observing the solar disk with the telescope
We originally planned to demonstrate how to watch the Sun using a telescope before starting my talk, if the sky is clear. But due to cloudy sky, we started from my lecture. After the end of my lecture, we gradually had sunshines (though through cloud). On the roof of the building, teachers enjoyed watching the solar disk imaged on the plate behind the telescope, and they directly watched the Sun by using “eclipse glasses” (ND filter glasses). Fortunately, a sunspot group, which appeared in the previous day, can be identified in the displayed solar disk. A teacher shouted for joy, when she identified a sunspot group. I expect teachers can tell such emotion to their students in their class.
当初、空が晴れていれば、私の話の前にまずは実際の太陽を望遠鏡を使ってどのように観察するかという実践が予定されていました。しかし梅雨空で薄く雲のすきまから弱い太陽光がときどき見える程度でしたので、私の話からはじめました。しかし、私の話が終わった後から、徐々に太陽を見ることができる状態がときどきあり、皆さんで太陽像を投影版に投影して観察したり、また「日食めがね」で太陽を直接見てみたりしました。前日に比較的大きめな黒点群が現われたので、のっぺらな太陽でなく、しみのある太陽を見ることができました。太陽黒点を見て、歓声を上げた女性の先生がいたり。この感動を生徒さんにも是非伝えてもらえればと思いました。
Learning the telescope optics with two small lens
After the sun watching, the second lecture was given by Fujimoto-san of Vixen, who told telescope optics and how to use telescopes. Using “eco-scope” (which was sold ten years ago but could not be sold out), which consists of two small lens, teachers learn how the primary len focus the image and then how the eyepiece (second lens) works. This “eco-scope” is called because it becomes a small telescope by inserting the toilet paper’s cylinder core between the two lenses. This toy is a good educational tool to learn how optical lens works.
最後に、ビクセンの藤本さんが、天体望遠鏡の仕組みや使い方についての講義をされました。１０年前に販売した（けど売れなかったらしい）「エコスコープ」という小さなレンズ２つを使って、主レンズと接眼レンズでどのように遠くの像が見えるのかを実際に体験しながら学んだ。レンズの間にトイレットペーパーの芯を入れると、小さな望遠鏡になるのだそうだ。光学レンズの仕組みを理解するには良い教材だと感じた。
Finally, this type of class is the first opportunity for me, but I fully enjoyed this time. Thanks.
最後にはじめての研修会でしたが、私も大変楽しむことができました。
.
