Mmastodon SciencePhysics first seen 10 h ago, last 5 h ago, peak #1

Scientists say disco balls can help observe the sun

Original: TIL: you can use disco balls for observing the sun. Cumming et al. 2024. "Why every observatory needs a disco ball." htt

A 2024 physics education paper by Cumming and colleagues, titled "Why every observatory needs a disco ball", explains that mirrored disco balls can be used to observe the sun. The ball's many small mirror tiles split sunlight into multiple tiny projected images, allowing solar observation with cheap, simple equipment. Readers are sharing the surprising tip widely.

Why now: The counterintuitive idea that a party decoration works as a solar astronomy tool is delighting science readers online.

Cumming et al.Physics Education journaldisco ball

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• TIL: you can use disco balls for observing the sun. Cumming et al. 2024. "Why every observatory needs a disco ball." https:// doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/ad1f a0 # Physics # Astronomy # ScienceEducation · uncanny_static@chaos.social · 8

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