1. The Rainbow Symphony Guide to Upcoming Solar Eclipse Events Whether you’re an amateur astronomer with an eye towards the stars or a seasoned eclipse chaser with a love for all things science, a solar eclipse is a truly unforgettable event –– and one that everyone should experience at least once! But the only way to do so is to know where you need to be, and when you need to be there. That’s why we’ve put together this handy list of upcoming solar eclipses starting in 2020 so you have the information you need to plan your eclipse event! 1. June 21st, 2...
  2. What Is A Solar Storm and Why Do They Matter? Key Takeaways A solar storm can include several types of solar activity, including coronal mass ejections, solar flares, solar wind, and solar energetic particles. Earth’s magnetosphere usually helps shield the planet, but strong space weather can still affect power grids, satellites, GPS, and communications systems. Solar storms matter because they help scientists understand the Sun while also reminding us why safe solar observation and space weather monitoring are important. It’s easy to ...
  3. Solar Halos: What Are They, and How Do They Appear? Key Takeaways Solar halos form when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by ice crystals in high, thin clouds. The most common solar halo is the 22° halo, a faint circular ring that appears around the Sun. Sun dogs, light pillars, eclipse halos, and lunar halos are related sky phenomena with different causes and appearances. You should never look directly at the Sun while observing a solar halo or eclipse-related phenomenon. Have you ever looked at the sky and noticed that there ...
  4. What Causes the Northern Lights? Key Takeaways The Northern Lights happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Different gases and altitudes create different aurora colors, from green and yellow to red, blue, and purple. Auroras are easiest to see in dark, northern locations during the colder months, especially when solar activity is high. The appearance of rainbows after a rain shower and the disappearance of the Sun during a total solar eclipse are not the only observable n...
  5. How Solar Activity Can Change the Earth's Climate Whether you’re watching the sunrise from your back porch or you’re basking in the Sun’s rays at the beach, it’s easy to take for granted the consistency of the Sun and its relationship to the Earth. It rises and sets each day and night, and while you can never really count on the weather, the seasons come and go in roughly the same pattern each year. The Earth’s climate, however, does evolve over the course of generations –– millennia, even. And you might not realize it lying on a towel in th...
  6. The Science Behind Fully Double Rainbows Throughout history, mankind has interpreted the appearance of a rainbow in the sky as a good omen –– a sign that the storms have passed and better days are ahead; a bridge between the earthly realm and that of the heavens; or even a marker pointing to the location of a hidden pot of gold! However you interpret the appearance of a rainbow, we now know that there is a scientific explanation for why it occurs in the first place. But if you’re especially lucky, you may have seen a fully double ra...
  7. 3 of the Most Fascinating Eclipse Chasers in the US A solar eclipse is an unforgettable event that lures fans of science, astronomy, and nature from around the world to locations where they can properly experience the phenomenon first-hand. Eclipse chasers are the most devoted of these fans, spending considerable resources ensuring that they can be in the right place at the right time to experience solar eclipses –– taking them around the world and back again to do so. As of 2020, Jay Pasachoff, Glenn Schneider, and John Beattie have each seen...
  8. What Is Direct and Indirect Sunlight? Direct sunlight reaches the Earth's surface when there is no cloud cover between the sun and the Earth, while cloud cover causes indirect sunlight to reach the surface. In gardening, sunlight falling directly on the plant is direct sunlight, while indirect sunlight refers to shaded areas. Indirect sunlight also is called “diffuse sky radiation,” because it is sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface after being dispersed in the atmosphere over haze, dust, and clouds. Whether you’re track...
  9. The Meaning of an Eclipse to Cultures Throughout History Last updated: 12 September 2026 Key Takeaways Culture What Did a Solar Eclipse Mean? Norse Wolves were believed to be chasing and consuming the Sun, signaling a potentially catastrophic event. Ancient Chinese A dragon was thought to be devouring the Sun, prompting people to make loud noises to frighten it away. Hindu The eclipse represented the demon Rahu temporarily swallowing the Sun in an act of ...
  10. The Study of Light: Making Lessons About Light Fun for Your Students As an educator, there’s no greater thrill than seeing your students get excited about a subject. You know the feeling: suddenly, they’re sitting up straighter, they’re paying attention, they’re asking questions, and they’ve got that look in their eyes – they’re learning! But it can also be easier said than done. If you’re repeating the same activities over and over again, or simply working from a textbook, you may find that attention spans run short and your students can start to lose focus. ...
  11. The Science of Black Lights: How Black Lights Work From Halloween parties and groovy dorm room posters to science museums and crime scene investigation television shows, you’re probably familiar with black light technology. When they’re turned off, black lights look just like any other fluorescent lamp – but when they’re turned on, they do something a little bit different! If you’ve ever been around a black light, you may have noticed that anyone wearing white is glowing a little bit brighter – as well as anything that’s specifically made to ...
  12. Why Fireworks Glasses Are Fun & Unique Promotional Items for Your Business Looking for promo materials that really make people take notice and remember your brand? Meet our amazing promotional sunglasses! In the business world, it can be challenging to stand out when you’re trying to market yourself. One of the most tried-and-true ways to do so, however, is by distributing promotional items featuring your brand’s logo, colors, and message – items like our customized diffraction rave glasses! From trade shows and recruiting events to launch parties and annual confere...
  13. Homemade Rainbows: Choosing the Best Rainbow Window Film Pattern for Your Space With Rainbow Symphony window film, you can easily fill any room with vibrant colors. When you apply our rainbow film to a window receiving direct sunlight, you’ll instantly add splashes of eye-popping reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, indigos, violets — and everything in between — to your walls, floors, and ceilings. At Rainbow Symphony, we use laser technology to create the best window prism film that beams with spectral colors. This diffraction film is easy to apply and remove, and fea...
  14. Using Solar Astronomy to Inspire Kids Across the Globe The Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project introduces kids to the fascinating field of Solar Astronomy while encouraging them to use their brains to achieve amazing things. We talked with the project’s founder Stephen Ramsden about the history of the project as well as his visions of the project’s future. Learn about how the project began, what continues to motivate Stephen, and how Solar Astronomy can be used to inspire greatness in future generations while instilling reverence for our planet...
  15. 8 Fascinating Facts About Rainbows You Probably Never Knew Rainbows are among the most magical – and fascinating – phenomenon that occurs in nature. No matter your age, it’s hard to look at a rainbow and not feel that sense of awe and wonder that you only get when you get to witness something truly special. Rainbows have been considered good omens for thousands of years, and while there’s nothing wrong with hoping for a little luck at the sight of a rainbow, there’s some hard rainbow science that’s worth investigating, too! Below, we’ve listed 8 amaz...
  16. After-Eclipse: Make The Most of the 90 Minutes After The Event A solar eclipse can be one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena. That’s why each time an eclipse comes around, tens of thousands of eclipse chasers around the world descend on the path of totality. This enthusiasm is contagious and experiencing an eclipse in the right conditions can easily turn you into an eclipse chaser for life! Believe it or not, an eclipse party can have a festival-like atmosphere. Depending on where you go, there may be tailgating, live music, food, and plenty of fun...