[TML] Don't try this at home (was New 3d computer simulation design)

[Tim Rattray]

Umm, the surface temperatures of stars is a mere 6,000K - 20,000K.  The real
problem lies in the sun's "atmosphere":- the Chromashpere, the Transition
Region, and the Corona.  Temperatures of 1-2 million K, but the gas is
pretty thin, so the temperature isn't really the issue - what is heating the
gases is the issue.

Dr Tanya Hill, Astronomy Curator, Melbourne Planetarium, has told me that
this is caused by extreme magnetism, which cooks up the ionised gasses to
millions of degrees.  (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun#Atmosphere)

So you can just forget about going anywhere near the sun in anything made of
metal.  Maybe you could get close in a nice teacup, or similar ceramic.  Of
course, the effects of such magnetism on a human brain would be interesting
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation) so maybe a
robot?  A mechanical ceramic robot?

Gee, rusty hydrogen at the bottom of a simple gravity well is looking nice
and refreshing....


Tim.