Space weather is the material and radiation emitted by our Sun, including solar flares and solar wind. How can space weather affect us on the Earth, astronauts in orbit, or even influence the habitability of our Solar System? Join us for a 30-minute lecture about space weather, followed by a panel Q&A consisting of several astrophysicists to answer your questions about astronomy and space science.
This public astronomy event will be hosted both in-person as well as live-streamed over YouTube Live. The lecture will be 30 minutes, followed by a 90-minute session of telescope-aided stargazing and a Q&A Panel consisting of experts in the department on a variety of astronomy and astrophysical topics. You can attend in person or interact with us through the YouTube interface. Event is free and open to all, no reservations necessary.
For more information including a link to the YouTube Livestream and directions to Caltech, click on the poster image or visit our webpage:
http://outreach.astro.caltech.edu
Title: Space Weather and the Evolution of Habitability
Lecturer: Ivey Davis
Abstract:
Over the past year, we have witnessed the peak of activity for the Sun. We've watched our Sun produce flares and launch energetic streams of charged particles that have threatened electrical grid blackouts and astronauts aboard the ISS, but also produced dazzling aurorae. This material released by the Sun is one of the major components of what we call space weather and, just like earth weather, it can have major impacts on the environment. In this presentation, I will discuss space weather and its effects, how we expect the Sun's behavior to change throughout its life, and what that means for habitability on the Earth and other worlds in our solar system and beyond.
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