Students participating in the Magnetosphere Network play a critical role in the overall process of SON. You may be among the first observers in SON to witness the effects of real solar storms resulting from Space Weather.

You will also learn how data from ground-based observatories and satellites are used to help NASA scientists measure the effect of the Sun's variability on Earth through changes caused by magnetic fields. You will also discover that you can detect changes in the Earth's magnetic field as a result of Space Weather by using a simple device called a magnetometer.

By collecting and analyzing real-time data from student magnetometers, observatories, and satellites, you can carry out the same duties as NASA researchers!

What You Need
Through the use of on-line resources and/or an inexpensive classroom-built magnetometer, you will be able to record and analyze data related to changes in the Earth's magnetic field. Although using a magnetometer to detect these changes is less effective at lower latitudes, activities are included that will make teaching magnetism different and fun at all latitudes. These activities will also lead students toward a better understanding of Earth's changing magnetic field.

What You Do
Make Observations
You will be guided through the process of making your own magnetometer that will allow you to measure changes in the Earth's magnetic field at home or in the classroom. You will also be shown how to use data from observatories and NASA satellites to observe changes in Earth's magnetic field and to predict auroras. The key element to all of these activities is to observe magnetometer data for as many days as you can.

Compare Observations
By taking advantage of the buttons to the left ( From Observatories, From Satellites) you can compare your own data to NASA data taken from ground-based observatories and from NASA satellites, ACE and IMAGE.

Submit Your Data to SON
In this section students across the nation have the opportunity to submit their observations directly to the Student Observation Network. A National average of all student input is calculated on a daily basis and is displayed on the SON Space Weather Alert System.

Menu Item Descriptions:
The buttons to the left will take you to the information you need while learning how to use and understand a variety of instruments during your exploration of our magnetosphere. Below is a brief description of each of those items:

From Students describes how to construct and collect data from inexpensive yet highly sensitive soda bottle magnetometer that measures changes in the Earth's magnetic field.

From Observatories describes how you can obtain and understand magnetospheric data from professional observatories.