Saturday 15 October 2011

Does the sun rotate?

Yes, the sun too rotates about its axis.But unlike the earth, which has rotation period of one day, the sun has a 'differential rotation'.i.e.All the parts of the sun do not have the same period of rotation.The period of rotation near its equator, sun spot zone, and pole are 26.9, 27.3, and 31.1 days.

The sun's enormous core temperature of 15 million degree Kelvin and a surface temeprature of 6,000 degree Kelvin, leaves all its constituents in the state of a high pressure, gaseous  plasma.For the purpose of certain calculations, the top and the bottom ends of the visible sphere of the sun are designated as north and south poles respectively.

Photographs are taken daily and the movements of the spots, filaments and plages are observed for various latitudes and longitudes, for a long period of time.From this, the sidereal rotation period is calculated.The reason behind this phenomenon is still a puzzle to solar physicists.

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