• 4:00-5:00 pm Discovery Station
  • 5:15-6:45 pm Lecture and Q&A
  • 6:30-8:30 pm Observatory Open

As children, we learn to think of the Sun as a yellow ball. As students, we're taught that the face of the Sun is occasionally blemished by sunspots. As adults, we hear about solar storms that can affect us here on Earth. But the Sun is even more dynamic, mysterious, and beautiful than you probably imagine. Explore this incredible star with observations from some of the most advanced telescopes. Learn what scientists have discovered and what they are only beginning to understand.

The Smithsonian's Stars Lecture Series is made possible by a grant from NASA.
  • A partial view of the sun focusing on the eruption of a solar flare in bright yellow. The solar flare expands beyond the layer of the sun photographed.
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    The upper one of a pair of new, solar active regions that just rotated into view of SDO offered a beautiful profile view of cascading loops spiraling above it (Jan. 15-16, 2012) following a solar flare eruption. These loop structures are made of superheated plasma, just one of which is the size of several Earths. With its ability to capture the Sun in amazing detail, SDO observed it all in extreme ultraviolet light. This particular video clip used an image every five minutes to present the motion. Note all of the other spurts and minor bursts from both regions during almost two days.

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  • A partial view of the sun focusing on the eruption of a solar flare in bright yellow. The solar flare expands beyond the layer of the sun photographed.

How to attend

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

6th St. and Independence Ave SW. Washington, DC 20560
Planetarium