Sun Series: You (Yes, You!) Can Help NASA Study the Sun
Apr 2, 2024
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NASA Sun scientist Liz Macdonald and volunteer Hanjie Tan discuss how ordinary people can contribute to NASA's research on the Sun, aurora, and more through citizen science projects. They talk about studying the Sun's atmosphere, discovering new colors in the aurora, and hunting for comets. Listeners are encouraged to get involved in NASA science and experience our nearest star firsthand.
Engage in NASA's citizen science projects to study the Sun, contribute to research, and make astronomical discoveries.
Participate in selecting songs for a solar eclipse soundtrack via Third Rock Radio, experiencing celestial wonders and connecting with NASA research.
Deep dives
Choosing the Eclipse Soundtrack with Solar Songs
Listeners are invited to select songs for a solar eclipse soundtrack through Third Rock Radio, with each day featuring a distinct theme. The playlist kicks off on April 5th with sunlight-inspired tracks. To participate, visit thirdrockradio.net and submit your song requests under the solar songs tab. The curated playlists will air from noon to 2 pm Central Time daily in celebration of the total solar eclipse on April 8th.
Personal Experience Watching the Aurora
Chandresh's life was transformed by witnessing the Aurora Borealis while working in Canada. The mesmerizing lights sparked his interest in astrophotography, leading him to chase the Aurora nightly and contribute to NASA research. His awe-inspiring encounter with the Northern Lights drove him to seek deeper understanding about the phenomenon, resonating with other individuals who've been captivated by celestial wonders.
Citizen Science in Heliophysics
The Heliophysics Big Year engages citizen scientists in various projects, including the Eclipse Soundscapes initiative tracking animal responses during solar events. Citizen science allows people to contribute to NASA's research, aiding in data analysis and making discoveries in celestial observations. Volunteers' hobbies align with scientific needs, creating a synergy where individuals assist in studying diverse astronomical phenomena.
Soho's Comet Discoveries and Sun Science
NASA's Soho spacecraft, designed to study the Sun, unexpectedly became a prolific comet discoverer. Soho's coronagraph enabled the detection of sun-grazing comets, leading to over 5,000 comet discoveries. This unique ability revealed insights into solar wind behavior and interaction with comets. Sun-grazer contributors, like Hanji Tan, exemplify dedication to this ongoing research, showcasing the collaborative effort and impact of citizen scientists in astronomical discoveries.
How often do you think about your nearest star? Though it may not seem like it from here on Earth, our trusty Sun is a place of mystery. Take a good look at its influence on our planet – through the otherworldly experience of eclipse, maybe, or the aurora – and you might get "sucked" in... to a citizen science project, that is. Join NASA Sun scientists like Liz Macdonald and volunteers like Hanjie Tan to listen to crickets fooled by the false night of an eclipse, discover new colors in the aurora, and hunt for comets hiding in the plasma of our Sun’s atmosphere. And learn how you can get involved in NASA science while experiencing our nearest star firsthand. This is episode three of the Sun and Eclipse series from NASA’s Curious Universe, an official NASA podcast.
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