Student Observation Network Tutorial

NOTE: All reported data will be on Universal Time (UT). Click here for Universal Time conversion table.

1. The basic purpose of each of the four programs within the Student Observation Network (S.O.N.):
   

   The four programs that comprise the Student Observation Network have been listed below in a specific order: Sunspotters, Radio Waves, Magnetosphere, Auroral Friends. This order was determined to help students track a solar storm from start to finish. (A detailed tutorial of how to participate in each of the four programs is provided on the opening page of each site.)



1. Sunspotters: This program will allow students to observe sunspots on the surface of the Sun. Students can observe the Sun in 3 ways: Views From Students, Views From Observatories, Views From Satellites. Students' observations can be compared and verified with views from observatories and satellites.

   Views From Students: Students can use a commercial Sunspotter(TM) or binoculars and paper, to look at sunspots and determine activity levels- which sunspot is most likely to be the site of a flare or Coronal Mass Ejection (your Sunspot Suspect)
   

   
   

   Views From Observatories: Observatories will provide daily, high-resolution solar images enabling students to make more detailed observations of sunspots. Four images will be posted daily. Telescopes in Education (TIE) will provide these daily images from observatories in Colorado, California, Maryland and Mexico.

   
   

   Views From Satellites: Students will link to the Multimedia Gallery where they will be able to view daily images of the Sun from the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft.



2. Radio Waves: The Radio Waves part of the Student Observation Network is designed to provide students with an opportunity to participate directly in observing solar storms. Many solar storms emit radio waves that can be measured by instruments on the Earth or in interplanetary space. Radio Waves give us a lot of information about activity taking place on the Sun. Radio observations can tell you when a major solar storm has taken place and how that might be expected to affect the Earth as the storm races through the solar system. There are three main methods of obtaining these radio wave observations:

Views From Students: students build a radio telescope and directly record the radio waves. For students wishing to build and use a radio telescope, a kit needs to be purchased from the Radio JOVE project. (See the kit order form and team application in 'Views From Students'.)





Views From Observatories: students consult established ground-based radio telescopes to see if they are presently receiving radio waves that indicate a solar storm is taking place. In this case only a computer connected to the network and a simple web browser program is needed. A more elaborate method of monitoring a larger number of ground-based radio observatories can be done by downloading and installing free Skypipe software on a windows-based computer connected to the network.




Views From Satellites: students can obtain pictorial data from the WAVES radio instrument on the NASA WIND satellite.

3. Magnetosphere : Students participating in the Magnetosphere Network play a critical role in the overall process of SON. They may be among the first observers in SON to witness the effects of real solar storms resulting from Space Weather. Students 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. Students will also discover that they can detect changes in the Earth's magnetic field as a result of Space Weather by using a simple device called a magnetometer.

   Views From Students: Through the use of an inexpensive classroom-built magnetometer, students will record data related to changes in the Earth's magnetic field. Although using the magnetometer to detect these changes is less effective at lower latitudes, the activities included will make teaching magnetism different and fun. These activities will also lead students toward a better understanding of our magnetosphere.
   




Views From Observatories: students can use real-time data from magnetic observatories located around the world. This data is updated every few minutes so that you can see exactly how Earth's field is changing right now. Students can also look at archival data from these observatories to explore how their measurements have changed during the last day, week, or year.


Views From Satellites: students can use NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) to find out what the solar wind conditions are like about one million miles from Earth.
4. Auroral Friends: Auroras are present all of the time. When the EarthÕs magnetosphere is calm and stable, the aurora at the North and South poles are very dim and form an oval around the poles. When the EarthÕs magnetic field is disturbed by especially energetic solar winds, the auroral oval moves outward from the poles and becomes brighter. In North America the aurora borealis is usually observed around the Arctic circle and into southern Alaska and northern Canada. Sometimes conditions are right for aurora to be observed in northern states bordering Canada. Under very rare conditions of especially energetic solar storms, aurora can be seen as far south as Florida and Texas.

   Views From Students: Students living at higher latitudes will alert all students in the Student Observation Network when they see an Auroral event. This will provide students throughout the network with verification of their predictions. This is called ground-truthing. Students at any latitude will be provided with activities using specific NASA spacecraft data to predict an aurora.

   
   
   

   Views From Satellites: students can obtain images from the NASA satellites Polar, TIMED and IMAGE to determine the extent of auroral coverage.

2. How to choose the S.O.N. program(s) most appropriate for your location
1. Participants can take advantage of all four sections of SON. However, some fieldwork activities associated with each of the four parts of the network are more ideal depending on the latitude of your location. To assist you with these determinations we have provided the following map. You will notice that the map has been divided into four separate color zones. Simply match your location to one of the color zones on the map, locate that color on the key and determine which activities we recommend for your particular region.

   

3. Space Weather Alert System
   

By monitoring the Space Weather Alert System you will have instant access to the daily status of space weather from current NASA satellite data and input from students observers. The "Archive of Input from our Student Observers" will allow you to use student input to track the progress of solar storms!



On the Space Weather Alert System page you will find:

1. Sun-Earth Media Viewer: Live Solar and Aurora Images
   
1. This link will take you to our media viewer where you will see daily images of the Sun and its Corona taken by the NASA spacecraft and ground-based observatories.
2. Labeled Sunspot Image
   
   
3. Point Gauge from ACE Data
   
   
4. Live Polar Image
   
   
5. Input from Student Sunspotters Program
   (Sample image)
   
6. Input from Student Radio Waves Program
   (Sample image)
   
7. Input from Student Magnetosphere Program
   (Sample image)
   
8. Input from Student Auroral Friends Program
   (Sample image)
   
9. Archive of Input from our Student Observers
   


10. KP Index
    
11. Other Space Weather Alert Links
    
4. Jigsaw Approach:
   
1. S.O.N. is designed to be used as a national collaboration for students. Students can use all of the projects separately and just study one aspect, an example would be to just get involved in Radio Waves. This in itself would be a dynamic project in a classroom with great math and science connections. However, our goal was to have students understand the Sun-Earth connection as a system that interacts. The use of the entire network will enable students to make predictions and do actual investigations using real data, satellite images, telescope viewing and student data. In your classroom students can work in specialized groups, each becoming experts in their field. Some use the magnetometers to report changes. Another group will monitor the radio emissions and a third group can observe the Sun. When they report to each other they have developed their own Alert System and can predict an aurora, the visible sign of a solar event. Because not all classrooms are able to participate in all 4 areas to make a prediction, we have developed the Student Observation Network as a national collaboration of students. Whether you participate in one section or all four, your students will become excited about the Sun-making predictions, being involved in real data collection, and investigation. Our goal is to make opportunities like this available for students to be inspired to learn more and realize the excitement in discovery.
5. How to obtain support/contact information.


If you have a specific question about S.O.N contact:

Don Robinson-Boonstra
Troy Cline

Elaine Lewis


If you have a specific science question, contact:

Ask a Scientist
Registration


1. By registering you will receive:
1. First alert to space weather events!


2. Free teacher packet of materials (while supplies last)


3. Contact with real scientists in your area


4. Email updates
2. Simply click on the URL below to register
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