United States

During one of the workshops in Anchorage, Alaska, participants created a brief statement describing the chain of events leading up to an auroral display. The description was based on background knowledge received from participating auroral scientists. It is meant to be a brief and ëto the point‰ statement for use in the classroom.

Auroral Cause Statement:
The Earth‰s magnetic field directs energy from solar storms around the Earth which compresses the magnetic field. This compression causes the field on the night side of the Earth to rearrange itself. When the rearranged field ësnaps back‰, like a rubber band, the particles already in the Earth‰s magnetic field are energized. They follow the Earth‰s magnetic field lines to the poles where they collide with gas particles in the upper atmosphere producing an auroral display.

Alabama
Mitzi Adams, of the Solar Physics Branch, is helping out with "festivities" at marshall's Educator Resource Center from 9 am to 12 noon on March 18.

Alaska-Anchorage
Imaginarium will be a participating museum for the live webcast from Poker Flat on February 21st. The students will share their experiences in seeing the aurora in Alaska.
For more information about other opportunities contact: Lincoln
E-mail Address: lincoln@imaginarium.org

Alaska- Anchorage
Several workshops where held during the month of November to assure the Students who participate in the Student Observation Network some Aurora Friends. See our pictures. For more information about Sun Earth Day and materials to support your efforts in Alaska contact: Ted Munsch at the Alaska Pacific University
E-mail Address(es): edted@alaskapacific.edu

Alaska, Fairbanks
http://www.csudh.edu/soe/chaut2003/Course7.html
Aurora Borealis and Other Arctic Phenomena SYUN AKASOFU, International Arctic Research Center, JOHN KELLEY and VIKAS SONWALKAR, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and GILBERT YANOW, NASA/JetPropulsion Laboratory
March 18-20, 2003 in Fairbanks, AK
Apply: CAL

Note: This course will be part of the NASA Sun-Earth Day workshops (March 20). Co-sponsored by the DAY Field Center.

Alaska is ideally situated in the auroral belt, which should afford excellent viewing conditions of the spectacular displays in the night sky especially during thiS solar maximum period. The course will be composed of lectures at the university and visits to laboratories and field research sites. Lectures will cover current knowledge about the aurora and other electromagnetic phenomena associated with it. Visits will be made to the Trans Alaska Pipeline with discussions on the effect of currents on the pipeline. A visit will be made to the Poker Flat Rocket Range, which supports high altitude research on the aurora. Permafrost is characteristic of this Arctic landscape. Visits will be made to local sites to illustrate the effect of ground ice on structures followed by a visit to the U.S. Army/CRREL-University of Alaska permafrost tunnel, which will afford a first hand view of frozen ground and ice wedges from the "inside" including the bones of animals incorporated in the ice tens of thousands of years ago.

For college teachers of: undergraduate science, math and technology courses and graduate students in the sciences interested in an eventual teaching career. Secondary Teachers will be allowed to take the course on a space available basis. Prerequisites: none.

Dr. Akasofu is currently the Director of the new International Arctic Research Center. He served for many years as Professor and Director of the Geophysical Institute and conducted pioneering work on the aurora. Dr. Kelley is Professor of Marine Science in the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. He has conducted research on trace gases and contaminants related to climate, hydroacoustics. Dr. Sonwalkar is Professor of Electrical Engineering in the Engineering Department at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr Sonwalkar has conducted research on the aurora and fisheries hydroacoustics. Dr. Yanow is the Outreach Coordinator for the Genesis Mission and Director of the CAL Field Center.

California, Altadena
The Voyager/Ulysses Project office, and the Telescopes in Education Office at JPL, are working with Ms. Hoskins eighth grade science classes at Eliot Middle School, in Altadena, CA.

We are working with the students to understand the electromagnetic spectrum and the effects of different wavelengths (visible and invisible) on the Earth. For this research we used the UV bead activity and the Hershel Experiment. We have also worked with the students in plotting the Sun Spots (given appropriate weather). The TIE group has provided the H-Alpha telescope for them to view the Sun safely and a Sun-spotter for the students to take the data (record the spots). We have been working with the group since February 25th.

We are scheduled to meet with the students March 13th and 18th.

California, NASA AMES
Melissa Maradiegue
NASA Ames ERC
They presented an AESP workshop at NASA AMES on Thursday and Friday evenings, March 6th and 7th, based on the new Sun-Earth Packet. Over 40 teachers attended and absolutely loved the new (and old) materials. Some said they are planning to use them in class this week. Thanks for your support!

California, Oakland
Live from the Aurora and Sun-Earth Day at Chabot Space & Science Center
Descriptions:
Feb 28-Mar 1 2003 Overnight, "Live from the Aurora"
What causes the Auroras? What causes the beautiful colors? Why are they almost always seen at Earth's poles? Why do some years bring more auroras than others? Spend a night at Chabot Space & Science Center and find out! Don't miss this exciting chance to be a part of the "Live from the Aurora" documentary, a production of NASA and Passport To Knowledge. As a participant in this overnight workshop, you will view a live broadcast from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska (from 2:00 Ü 4:00 AM) and ask the Alaskan scientists questions via telephone about what you are seeing. Documentary crews will be filming footage at Chabot to incorporate into the NASA documentary. Along with the live, interactive centerpiece of the night's activities, Chabot will conduct fun, educational workshop-style activities for participants, provide local scientists to answer questions, and present a special showing of the film Solarmax.
Mar 22 2003 "Sun-Earth Day" at Chabot
Join us at Chabot Space & Science Center for the third annual, NASA-promoted Sun-Earth Day celebration! This year's theme is the Aurora: the spectacular atmospheric light show typically seen in Earth's polar regions and caused by the activity of our life-giving star, the Sun. Come and enjoy learning about the Aurora, the Sun, and the intimate and vital relationship our planet and our star share.
Activities at Chabot on this day will include:
- Astronomer-facilitated telescope viewing of the Sun
- Environmental and Solar "Spotlight" activities
- Roving scientists
- The spectacular film "Solarmax"
- Discovery Lab activities for families
- Computer Lab explorations of the Sun and the Aurora

California, Oakland
at Chabot Space & Science Center on March 22, 2003:

Facilitation of Aurora Websites
9 Sunspotters with scientists and volunteers facilitating
Solar Energy Spotlight Activities
Lights, Action, Aurora! (Introduction to Aurora, 20 minute presentation)
Roving Scientists (from Space Sciences Lab)
Solar Pizza (Sun-Earth scale/distance activity)
Aurora Chalk Art
Gas Emission Tubes (demonstrating light emission in low density gases)
Chabot C-8 telescope with H-alpha filter (astronomer included)
SSL H-alpha telescope (astronomer included)
Solar-Aurora Treasure Hunt
Magnetics Demonstration
Solarmax (one showing)
Aurora Alcove: aurora multimedia

Benjamin Burress
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd.
Oakland, Ca 94619
(510) 336-7308
(510) 336-7491 fax
bburress@chabotspace.org

"That's not something you see every day...unless you're us!"

Florida
Florida Gulf Coast University

Solar viewing event using telescopes equipped hydrogen-alpha and white light filters for safe viewing of the sun on March 27 on the campus of florida Gult Coast University in Fort Meyers, FL. Faculty of the astronomy department will be available to answer questions relating to the sun-Earth connection.

Georgia-Atlanta
Fernbank Museum will participate in the live interaction during the live webcast on March 1st. They are also planning special workshops for teachers and families.
Contact April Whitt for more information:
E-mail Address: aprilwhitt@fernbank.edu

Hawaii, Honolulu
Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St.
Honolulu, HI 96817

Sun Earth Day:
We offered the "Northern Lights" planetarium show from the Lawrence Hall of Science at 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM. The show was modified somewhat to include information on the tropics vs. the arctic regions of the earth. Total attendance during the day for the show was 98.

Plus these events, all of them from 9:30 - 11:30 AM and 1:30 - 3:30 PM:

1. Solar Observing in the Observatory: using our observatory to project the sun's image on the wall.

2. Solar observing on the great lawn with volunteers from the Hawaiian Astronomical Society. The volunteers brought their own telescopes with solar filters.

3. Solar activities for kids - make a sun puppet or a solar flip book.

Total attendance at these informal solar activities was around 500 people.

We received coverage for this event from Channel 8 NBC and the Honolulu Advertiser.

Plus these programs before the day itself:
1. Sun-earth teacher workshop, 3/15, 9 AM to noon. 10 teachers attended. The focus: sunspots, seasons, northern lights. Extensive use of the web sites of various solar missions (TRACE, Helios, Genesis, etc.) and of education materials such as the Sun-Earth teacher guide.

2. "Northern Lights" planetarium show was also presented at 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM on Saturday 3/15 to reach those people who could not make it down on a weekday. Attendance on that day: 113.

3. Mike Shanahan went on KITV (local ABC affiliate) on Tuesday 3/11 to promote the Sun-Earth programs.

Planetarium home page: http://www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium

Maryland, Baltimore
The Maryland Science Center will host students and parents during the live web cast on March 1st. Other opportunities for Sun Earth Connection training will be available in February and March, including Teacher Thursday on February 20th and 27th.
For more information contact Flavio Mendez
E-mail address: mendez@mdsci.org

Maryland
On March 18, Maryland Science Center will celebrate Sun-Earth Day, featuring the SolarMax IMAX movie, live interaction with scientists, and planetarium shows.

At Goddard Space Flight Center, all employees are welcome to a solar viewing in front of Building 26 from 12:30 to 2:30 on Sun-Earth Day. We will be using sunspotters as well as optical and radio telescopes for viewing. So, even if the weather is cloudy we can still see the Sun's radio emissions.

Maryland, Laurel
Company Seven- Public Outreach Event
http://www.company7.com/c7news.html

Maryland, Baltimore
Maryland Science Center
The day was filled with activities for students and the general public. A number of special presentations were available. Through a partnership with the European Space Agency and NASA's Sun Earth Connection Education Forum a special presentation of Solar MAX, was shown 3 times during the day in the IMAX Theatre at MSC. Over 300 students, parents, teachers and invited guests shared Sun-Earth Day through the excitement of Solar MAX. Students participated in a question and answer session with Dr. Art Poland and Dr. Nicky Fox, two featured scientists in this years, Live From the Aurora- Sun-Earth Day 2003. Special demonstration stages where available so that student scould under the science of the Sun-Earth connection as well as a planetarium presentation. The students from Roland Park Middle School, gathered to watch the broadcast Live From the Aurora, as they participated at the MSC on March 1, one of the live interactive sites in Live From Poker Flat.

Maryland, Greenbelt
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight employees celebrated Sun-Earth Day by looking through solar filtered telescopes, sunspotters and listening to radiowaves. Members of the Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum enjoyed sharing with the employees some of the opportunities they make available for students nationally.

Massachusetts, Boston
Boston Museum of Science

Public Presentation by Leonard Strachan and Mari Paz
Public Presentation by Tania Ruiz
To find more information on our Sun-Earth Prgramming, please visit http://www.mos.org/cst/article/5280/

For additional information, contact Tania Ruiz

Mississippi, NASA Stennis Space Center
330 students and teachers particpated in this year's Sun-Earth Day Celebration. It was a huge sucess. They use the event and many activities with scientists and their education staff as opportunities to reach young people, exposing them to new ideas, which allow them to "inspire the next generation of explorers."

Solar Fact Catcher (sun-spots)

Solar Jewelry/ Truths & Myths About the Sun (UV light)

New Mexico, Albuquerque
LodeStar Astronomy Center
1801 Mountain Road NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
For additional information: Aocatherine@nmmnh.state.nm.us

Join the fun and activities for Sun-Earth Day a kiosks featuring the Sun Earth Day website-and the live webcast will be a part of March 18th. There will be sun-earth resource packets for teachers visiting that day; activities with the Sunspotter for classes visiting that day.

For general information, we have Solar Sundays running every Sunday from 10:30-4:30. We will begin running Solar Mondays from 10-2, on March 31. The observatory is open so the public can visit the 16-inch Meade with an h-alpha filter. Solar Mondays, visiting teachers will be given special sun-earth resource packets to take with them.

Pennsylvania, Reading
A series of workshops will be held on Planetary and Solar Energy. Dennis Christopher-AESP NASA Goddard
http://aesp.nasa.okstate.edu/pari/pensyl/pensyl.html
Dr. Grace Cisek-Pittsburg Public Schools

Rhode Island
Workshop for educators during the week of February 5.
Dennis Christopher
http://aesp.nasa.okstate.edu/pari/riweb/riweb.html

Virginia, Farifax
Sandburg Center For Sky Awareness
A Fairfax County Public Schools Planetarium
Walter Sanford, Director
Carl Sandburg Middle School
http://www.wsanford.com/~wsanford/exo.html

Texas
Houston Museum of Natural Science
We will have volunteers bring solar telescopes to show the Sun to the public.
Visitors will also be able to:

• Lou Lanzerotti is giving a public lecture on space weather
• make and take home a replica of our large sundial
• etch their initials into a popsicle stick using a fresnel lens and the power of sunlight
• race solar cars
• make images on sun-Print(tm) paper
• eat solar cookies

Texas, El Paso
Insights Science Museum in El Paso
1 March- Evening Reception for Journalists/Advance signing of Storms of the Sun, by Doctor Ramon Lopez

2 March- Two half day workshops for educators; Family Science Night

11 March- Hands-On Learning with Students Area school students will come to Insights for hands-on learning activities facilitated by teachers who attended the workshops. A camera crew will video tape what happens for inclusion during the SEd webcast on March 20th.