Assigned to Nick (on 01/22/2024)
A simplified, straightforward version of the simulation was done already (see https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3505). This GSFC animation is showing a time-lapse video where spots are shifted in position due to solar rotation. We can create an animation of the non-rotating Sun, by shifting images anti-rotation direction such that the equatorial region appears to be non-moving. In such an animation, polar regions will appear to be rotating backward because of differential rotation. The image shown right is a sequence of solar images taken by SOHO during Solar Cycle 23 (11.6 yrs long: May 1996 - Jan 2008).
We can improve the above trial by showing sunspots over one solar activity cycle using the solar disk, rather than a Mercator projection shown above. I.e., in Blender, we can create a rotating sphere with textured images taken from several Sun-observing satellites. By choosing a different time-interval (days or months), we can focus on the changing nature of Sun-spots over time to demonstrate (1) solar (differential) rotation, (2) solar activity (i.e., changing number of sunspots), and (3) migration of active region from polar to equatorial (i.e., latitude dependency of solar activity).
For this project, we should be able to download a set of synoptic (i.e., rotation-corrected) images of the Sun. https://proba2.sidc.be/Synoptic-observations can be a good place to obtain relevant images. Then, use these images (one at a time) to lay down a texture on a Blender-created Sun. Periodically changing the texture images, we can simulate the rotation and activity cycle of the Sun.
Important pending tasks (or notes/ideas) to complete the simulation.
These are technical prerequisites (3D model components) to create this simulation.
These are newly created components (functions, materials, cameras, etc.) from this topic simulation.
These are underlying astronomical concepts to teach with this simulated topic.
These are some key scenes or animations from the simulation.