Sun-Drenched Citizen Science (Video Version)

The sun is now entering the “solar maximum,” the time during its 11-year solar cycle when it’s most active, producing sunspots and solar flares. There are also two solar eclipses coming up over a six-month period. Not coincidentally, we’re also now beginning the Heliophysics Big Year, when solar science researchers are most active, and there are a variety of citizen science opportunities to bring the public along for the ride.

Links mentioned in this podcast include:

Short Film To Scale: The Solar System

SciStarter NASA Page

SciStarter Eclipse Page

NASA Heliophysics Big Year

Citizen CATE

 

Eclipse Soundscapes Data Collector

Eclipse Soundscapes Observer

NASA Heliophysics Big Year Zines

NASA Eclipse Map

Media Credits:

All video simulations Credit: NASA

Orrery with wood base, via Flickr Creative Commons, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Image Credit Karen_O’D

Brass Orrery, via Flickr Creative Commons, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Image Credit: Raneko

Solar System graphic (planets at an angle), via Flickr Creative Commons, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Image Credit: NASA

Eclipse and Mountains, via Flickr Creative Commons, Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0) Credit: NASA/ Bill Ingalls

Apollo on the Clouds Artwork (1688-1698), via Flickr Creative Commons, Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0) Artist: Johan Teyler (original from The Rijksmuseum); Digitally enhanced by rawpixel

Photo of Apollo golden relief via Flickr Creative Commons, Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0); Photo Credit: Chris Waits

Solar System, side view, via Flickr Creative Commons, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0; Image Credit: This is Yu

Music Credit:

Podcast Theme, by Keith Hartnell