NASA Endeavour Program North Pocono Middle School

Presentation Points Our Mission: STEREO Sub-Topics: 1.Coronal Mass Ejections 2.Sunspots 3.Magnetosphere

STEREO  STEREO is an acronym that stands for Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory  STEREO ◦ NASA mission consisting of two nearly identical satellites ◦ Mission is to study Coronal Mass Ejections and monitor and take 3-D images of the sun

STEREO’s Mission History  Launched on October 25, 2007 at 8:52 p.m.  Third mission of NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Probes Program.  Took the first 3-D images and stereoscopic measurements of the sun to study the sun and the Coronal Mass Ejections (CME’s).  Future is yet unknown.

STEREO

STEREO’s Instruments STEREO is equipped with special tools to help it monitor and track the sun: SECCHI - Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation PLASTIC - PLAsma and SupraThermal Ion Composition IMPACT- In-situ Measurements of Particles and CME Transits S/WAVES - STEREO/WAVES

Coronal Mass Ejections  Solar wind above the sun’s corona that causes bursts  One of the biggest explosions in our solar system

CME’s (continued)  A Coronal Mass Ejection  Is caused when two magnetic lines on the sun twist around each other and touch.  When this happens, the magnetic lines short out and if a solar eruption occurs, this shorting out allows the eruption able to escape from the sun.  These small scale eruptions usually ride along the magnetic field lines and come back. When a very large eruption occurs and it escapes the magnetic field lines, it is called a CME.

CME’s (continued)  A Coronal Mass Ejection could have powerful effects on Earth. Such eruptions could make the Earth a desolate planet with no life and very little atmosphere. Could this really happen to us?  The answer is no. The Earth’s magnetic field protects us from the CME’s.

CME’s (continued)  …and then disperses it among the two poles of the Earth, giving us the Aurora Borealis.

Negative Effects of CME’s  It can interfere with communications.  A CME can also harm an astronaut in space and expose them to radiation.  A CME can cause radio blackouts, navigation errors, and computer reboots on airplanes during a solar storm.  They can disable satellites that are used for weather forecasts and GPS navigation.

CME’s and STEREO  NASA created the STEREO mission exactly for this purpose. Since STEREO can monitor Coronal Mass Ejections, we can predict when one is coming and may impact earth. That gives us enough time to get astronauts out of space and move other valuables.

The Magnetosphere  The Magnetosphere is a magnetic field around earth.  The spinning iron in the Earth’s core gives earth its magnetosphere.  As you have already learned, the magnetosphere protects the Earth from Coronal Mass Ejections.

Magnetosphere (continued) The magnetosphere attracts the charged particles from the CME and disperses the particles among the two poles. Below: The Aurora Borealis

Sunspots  Sunspots are darker regions on the sun.  Sunspots usually occur in the convective part of the sun.  Scientists have noticed these sunspots occur in cycles, called the Solar Cycle.  The Solar Cycle is the cycle of Solar activity on the sun. One period, during the 17 th Century, the sun was totally inactive. This inactivity is now called the Maunder Minimum.

Sunspots (continued)  The Greenwich Observatory has gathered valuable information on the Solar Cycle.  We are now able to predict solar activity by using information based on previous solar activity.

Sunspots (continued)  Sunspots are cooler areas of the sun with massive magnetic activity.  A collection of magnetic field lines.  This happens because when the sun rotates, the substances it is made of do not spin equally because the sun is made up of liquids such as hydrogen plasma.  In the middle of the sun it spins faster and magnetic field lines usually cross and tangle there.  They appear black against the rest of the sun because they are cooler than the surrounding area of the sun, making them highly visible.

Sunspot Number Prediction

North Pocono Web-Site  by North Pocono Middle School NASA Team