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Preparing for the Journey to Space
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Space Weather!
The second of two Web Seminars on NASA: Preparing for
the Journey to Space was held on Thursday, January 19, 2006, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. Eastern time. The presenter was Dr. Art Poland, astronomer at George Mason
University and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Among the participants were
some teachers who had attended the face-to-face symposium
at the NSTA Area Convention in Hartford, CT.
The session started with a general overview of the NSTA Web Seminar tools and how
they can be used to facilitate interaction between the participants and the presenters.
Fifty participants were present in addition to the presenter and the NSTA staff.
Participating educators represented the states of Alabama, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
One participant joined the group from New Zealand.
Dr. Poland talked about the Sun, its parts, and how it generates energy in its core.
He also elaborated on the Sun's behavior during solar minimum and solar maximum.
He described solar flares, prominences, and the way the SOHO spacecraft is used
to help scientitsts forecast space weather. In order for humans spend more time
living in space, he explained, researchers need to learn more about the Sun and
solar storms. Radiation, for example, can be damaging to humans living in space.
Astronauts living in the International Space Station are briefed when the Sun experiences
storms. Spacewalks are scheduled carefully to avoid exposing astronauts to these
events.
Dr. Poland also talked about the different types of orbits-low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous
orbit-and how space weather can affect satellites at these locations. Throughout
the presentation there were several opportunities for the participants to interact
with each other and with the presenter by answering poll questions, chatting, stamping,
and marking.
Here are some comments provided by the participants at the end of the Web Seminar:
- "Learned a lot about different topics related to the sun and space, especially
about some of the characteristics that are related to the sun. This is my first
web seminar, and I look forward to the other ones being offered. And, I
learned
more about SOHO."
- "Art was wonderful, very informative and answered questions at our level.
Thank
you! I now understand the different colored SOHO pix."
- "I really enjoyed being able to share Art's expertise. It was really great to
get
to connect with teachers from all around the world. I found many great resources
just from the chat alone. It was great."
- "Very well done. This was my second web seminar, and I enjoy having the opportunity
to learn new material! I learned that scientists can analyze atoms other than H
and He."
Thanks to the participants and Art for the learning opportunity, the interactions,
and a job well done!
Web Seminar II Resources
Archive
See a recorded
version of the Web Seminar.
PowerPoint Presentation
- PC Download: To view online select link below to display in browser.
To download PowerPoint slides to your desktop right click on the link below and
select "save target as" from the drop down menu.
- MAC Download: To download PowerPoint slides to your desktop control
+ click on the link below and select "Save Linked File As..."
Download File Web Seminar II
- PowerPoint Presentation
(840 KB)
Websites
For more information contact webseminars@nsta.org
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