After Skylab flew in 1973-1974, solar astronomers started examining the data the Apollo Telescope Mount collected on the high-energy behavior of our star, the Sun. These data confirmed many of the ideas about what causes violent explosions on the Sun, including what are now called "coronal mass ejections." Join space history curator David DeVorkin as he discusses the data and what it revealed, especially the need to closely monitor the Sun on a continuous basis from space with the goal of refining a predictive system to warn us before these events occur, so we can protect ourselves on earth, and, especially, as we venture into space. Join David DeVorkin as he talks about space weather.
Meet at the nose of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird in the Boeing Aviation Hangar.
About the Ask an Expert Series: A few times a month at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a Museum staff member talks to the public about the history, collection, or personalities related to a specific artifact or exhibition in the Museum.