Major Milestones in NSF-Funded Solar Astronomy
NSF has long supported solar astronomy research. This science has helped inform what we know about the sun, other stars and the plasma state of matter (like the sun’s corona). This fundamental knowledge is at the crux of space weather, which impacts communication networks and power grids on our own planet. NSF’s newest investment, the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, is poised to collect unprecedented images and data about the sun when it becomes fully operational in 2020.
NSF’s Kitt Peak National Observatory assists Aerobee Franz Deubner, using the Site construction begins on rocket launch to capture NSF Dunn Solar Telescope NSF funds a Global NSF’s 4-meter Daniel K. X-ray images of the sun. Also, at Sacramento Peak, Oscillation Network Group Inouye Solar Telescope. NSF coordinates U.S. federal demonstrates how solar (GONG) to observe sun The world’s most powerful NSF awards its first Balloon-mounted solar research participation in five-minute oscillations are continuously as possible solar telescope, it released grants for solar telescope captures historic “International Year of the Quiet trapped inside the sun, and provide space its first images of the sun’s research. photos of sunspots. Sun” to study sun’s corona. leading to helioseismology. weather data. surface in 2020. 1953-1954 1959-1960 1965 1975 1995 2012
1958 November 2, 1962 1973 1983 2003 August 21, 2017 American scientists with NSF dedicates NSF funds the National NSF sends scientific Synoptic Optical Long-term NSF funds projects to obtain NSF funding observe McMath Solar Telescope Center for Atmospheric expedition to Indonesia Investigations of the Sun uninterrupted observation of total sun continuously for at Kitt Peak National Research’s High Altitude to observe total solar (SOLIS) instrumentation is solar eclipse as it traverses U.S.; 12 months for first time Observatory. Observatory to develop a eclipse, including a newly deployed at NSF’s Kitt Peak NCAR and Smithsonian in history as part of coronagraph for Skylab to developed special camera National Observatory to Astrophysical Observatory flies International observe sun from space. to capture the interplay map sun’s magnetic field along path of totality and NSO Geophysical Year between solar magnetic in photosphere and leads nationwide citzen science scientific program. fields and corona. chromosphere daily. observation project, Citizen Cate.
National
Science Image credits: Top row: US Navy; NASA; NSF (2); NSO/AURA/NSF (2) Foundation Bottom row: NOAO/AURA/NSF; NASA; NSF; NSO/AURA/NSF