1. 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 ...
  2. 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 ...
  3. The Eclipse Megamovie Project: Collecting Eclipse Images A total solar eclipse is a magical event to behold, which is why each eclipse draws thousands of people who want to experience it first-hand. With the advent of the internet, social media, and the ability to connect and communicate, scientists are now turning to these hoards of enthusiastic eclipse chasers to help document the events in a way that has never before been done. By taking advantage of the thousands of people who gather to experience the total solar eclipse, researchers with the E...
  4. 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...
  5. 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...
  6. 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...
  7. 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...
  8. Mother Nature's Other Rainbow: The Science Behind Colorful Sunsets There is nothing quite like watching a sunset, especially on those evenings when the sky transforms into a beautiful spectrum of colors –– pinks and purples, yellows and oranges. Colorful sunsets are just another reminder that Mother Nature is an endlessly creative artist! These awe-inspiring moments are a sight to behold –– but have you ever wondered about the science behind sunsets? Let’s take a look at what’s really going on during a sunset. Why the Sun Sets To understand the science behin...
  9. 6 Cultural Interpretations of a Total Solar Eclipse
  10. Fun Ways to Have an Amazing Hometown Eclipse Party Fun Ways to Have an Amazing Hometown Eclipse Party The next total solar eclipse to be observable from the United States will be on April 8, 2024. The path of totality runs from the Northeast through the Midwest and across Central and Western Texas, with the center line cutting through some of the best towns in America. If you happen to live in one of those towns, the total eclipse is a great opportunity to show off what you’re neck of the woods has to offer, and you may even be able to throw...
  11. Solar System & Astronomy Programs Across the US: A Quick Guide Our understanding of the solar system, astronomy, and astrophysics has expanded exponentially over the centuries. That is largely thanks to the incredible astronomy programs taught in summer camps and on college campuses. If you’re interested in pursuing an education in astronomy or a related field, read our guide featuring some of the best programs in the US! Programs for Students of All Ages Astronomy Camp | Tucson, Arizona Astronomy Camp prides itself on being Arizona’s longest-running sci...
  12. Eclipse 2024: Community, Eclipse Parties, and More The next total solar eclipse in the Americas will occur on April 8th, 2024, and will be visible in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Known as The Great North American Eclipse, it will be a spectacular event that will draw observers from all over the world, who gather to watch breathlessly as the cosmos engage in this rare celestial dance! If you’re one of thousands of solar eclipse chasers who wants to make the 2024 eclipse an unforgettable experience, you’ve come to the right place. We’...
  13. Solar “Viewing” Glasses: 4 Reasons to View The Sun (That Aren't an Eclipse) Since the dawn of mankind, humans have been looking up to the heavens with an unwavering curiosity. While science has helped us understand our solar system – and our place in that solar system – there is still so much for us to learn. That’s why, to this day, we can’t help but seek out answers to those age-old questions through thoughtful study and careful exploration – especially when it comes to questions about the Sun! But did you know that you don’t have to wait for a solar eclipse to stu...
  14. The Meaning of an Eclipse to Cultures Throughout History A blessing? A curse? A sign of good things to come, or doom on the horizon? Throughout the course of history, total solar eclipses have been observed in awe, as astounding astronomical events. And before modern science was able to offer us a better explanation of what was actually happening during a solar eclipse, ancient cultures developed their own solar eclipse meanings and interpretations Let’s take a look at a few of the most fascinating ways that cultures have explained solar eclipses o...
  15. The Study of Color: A Beginner’s Guide to Chromatics Color plays a critical role in our world and in our everyday lives. Color is how we express ourselves, how we communicate with one another – how we know whether to stop or go at a traffic light! Color can influence our actions, and trigger emotional reactions. We take it for granted, but color… well, it colors our world! The study of color, also known as chromatics, is a fascinating field, and without it, we wouldn’t know nearly as much as we do about rainbows! Sure, chromatics are about stud...
  16. The “Center Line” Eclipse Gear Guide | Where You Can See an Eclipse If you’re interested in seeing an eclipse from the best possible vantage point, you need to seek out what is known as the “center line.” This is where you can see the eclipse for the longest amount of time. Why? If we imagine the shadow cast by the Moon as a line, that line is what is known as the path of totality. But if you’re able to get as close as possible to the center of the path of totality, you’ll be able to see the eclipse for a longer period of time; if the duration of the eclipse ...