Ever wonder about how the Aurora are created and when you can see them? Did you know that there is weather in space? And, what wonders lay beneath the surface of the sun? This workshop will help you to better understand the strong connection between the Sun, Earth, and the Aurora (with a little stellar evolution thrown in too).
This workshop will look at the aurora and explain how they are formed due to the processes that occur on the sun and through space weather. Hear about the new IRIS (Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph) spacecraft and get your middle or high school students involved in the NASA ‘Tracking a Solar Storm’ project. This will also be a good time to take a look at the sun, its layers, and the spacecraft that observe ir.
Participants will also learn about the space weather predictors used by scientists and what websites and Apps they can go to for aurora prediction. An aurora demonstration will also be provided
As an extra bonus, we will share NEWLY DEVELOPED star cards, H-R diagram, and stellar evolution classroom activity that will make you a star in your classroom.
BRING your laptop, mobile device, and/or tablet!
Register below for this workshop now! Registration includes CPDUs and lunch.
A fee of $25 for the workshop will be collected on the day of the workshop. Please make checks to "University of Chicago."
Tentative Agenda: Saturday, February 23, 2013:
8:30 – 9:00 Coffee and Registration
9:00 – 9:10 Welcome and Introduction to the day
9:10 - 9:40 Learning About The Sun
9:40 - 10:10 Sunspot Activity
10:10 - 10:20 Solar Dynamics & Aurora on Other Planets
10:20 - 10:30 Break
10:30 - 11:00 Learning About Space Weather (Solar wind)
11:00 - 11:40 Tracking A Solar Storm Project – Presentation from NASA IRIS
Satellite EPO Team
11:40 - 12:00 Space Weather Apps and Websites
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch provided by Stars at Yerkes
12:30 - 1:00 Yerkes Tour (optional) and New Teacher Bags
1:00 - 1:15 Spectroscopy and the Sun – Space Weather – Aurora
(Aurora Specturm & Human Eye Response)
1:15 - 1:30 Aurora and the Cathode Ray Tube Analogy
1:30 - 2:00 Aurora Classroom Demonstrator – Aurora Animation
Name the Constellation in that Aurora Image
2:00 - 2:15 Types of Aurora (Theta Aurora)
2:15 - 2:45 The Relationship and Size of Stars Activity
2:45 - 3:00 Break
3:00 - 4:00 Star Cards, H-R Diagram & Stellar Evolution Activity
4:00 - 4:15 Auroral Reflections & Resoures
4:15 - 4:30 Wrap up - Final thoughts and additional resources, Evaluations and CPDUs, Upcoming events
Stay for the Evening Star Party 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Invite your family and friends!
Or Help Us Teach the Public (Contact Lynne Zielinski if you want to help with star party activities - email@example.com)