1. 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...
  2. The Science Behind Fully Double Rainbows Last updated: 21 September 2026 Key Takeaways A rainbow forms when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed as it passes through raindrops. A double rainbow appears when some light undergoes two internal reflections inside a raindrop, producing a secondary arc outside the primary rainbow. The secondary rainbow is fainter than the primary rainbow and displays its colors in reverse order. The position of a rainbow depends on the location of the observer, the sunlight, and the raindrops....
  3. The Solar System for Kids: 3 Famous Solar Astronomers Today, kids studying astronomy and the solar system benefit from modern technology, sophisticated telescopes, affordable solar astronomy tools, and centuries of observation to better understand the relationship between the entire solar system, the sun, and the earth. But hundreds of years ago, there were only a few scientists who were bold enough to challenge the accepted theories of the solar system. Let’s take a look at three of the most important early solar astronomers –– Copernicus, Brah...
  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. Planning Your Eclipse Travel: What You Should Know The only thing better than experiencing the wonder and awe of a solar eclipse is doing so surrounded by fellow eclipse enthusiasts! When there is an upcoming eclipse on the horizon, eclipse travelers around the world descend on the path of totality to collectively share in these magical moments. Whether you’re preparing for your first solar eclipse event or you’re a veteran eclipse chaser, planning your journey is a crucial step to ensuring that you get the most out of the experience. Here ar...
  6. 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...
  7. 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 ...
  8. 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 ...
  9. 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...
  10. 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...
  11. 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...
  12. 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...
  13. 6 Cultural Interpretations of a Total Solar Eclipse
  14. 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...
  15. 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’...
  16. 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...