Why study astronomy?
Solar astronomers can easily justify their object of study, since the Sun sustains all life on earth. In addition, certain behaviors of the Sun have a dramatic effect on our daily lives. The 11 year cycle of solar activity includes huge solar flares and large numbers of sunspots at its peak. This results in charged particles bombarding the earth and interfering with telecommunications, power grids, and even the yield of semiconductor chip production. The night time sky is a source of beauty and wonder. You can experience this for yourself if you have an unobstructed view of the dark night sky – just look up! We can all marvel at pictures of galaxies, nebulae, planets, and other celestial wonders the heavens contain, stretch our minds to comprehend the vast distances involved, and immerse ourselves in contemplating the meaning of it all.
