NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The recently launched Space Weather Center Web site tells the story of storms from space, from their origins on the Sun to their interaction with Earth's magnetic field and beyond.

Image above: The Space Weather Center Web site covers a wide range of topics. Credit: Space Science Institute

The Space Weather Center Web site was originally launched in 1999 to support the 1,000-square-foot nationally touring science exhibit of the same name. The exhibit has been retired, but the new Space Weather Center Web site, which is intended for general audiences, is one of the most comprehensive and accessible space weather information resources available online.

The redesigned site has a fresh new look and a number of online interactives that help communicate some of the basic concepts related to space weather and Sun-Earth connections. The overall structure of the site follows the space weather story, beginning with the plasma state of matter and a thorough introduction to the Sun - the place where space weather begins. Other areas of the site continue the story, focusing on auroras and storms in Earth's magnetic field, space weather forecasting, research and modeling.

The major content areas of the Space Weather Center:

• Amazing Plasmas - The fourth state of matter makes up most of the visible universe
• Living With A Star - We live in the atmosphere of our dynamic Sun
• Protective Shield - Earth's magnetosphere shelters us from the solar wind plasma
• Storm Alert - Magnetic storms shake-up Earth's magnetic field and produce huge amounts of power
• Research - Ground-based, space-based and modeling efforts increase our knowledge

Visitors can also access additional resources, such as a space weather FAQ, and the downloadable booklet "A Family Guide to the Sun". The Family Guide is an innovative collection of pictures, puzzles, poetry and projects for use with adults, educators and parents who work with kids aged 6 - 12 in informal learning settings (e.g. at home, in museums, planetariums, nature centers, youth groups, etc). Teachers can download the latest version of the Space Science Institute's middle school supplement, called "Solarscapes".

Image above: Ever tried mini-golf with a proton in the magnetosphere? This interactive game uses algorithms derived from plasma physics research. Credit: Space Science Institute

Some components of the site - such as the "Magneto Mini Golf" - were supported by a National Science Foundation supplement to a space weather research grant. These supplements support scientists interested in making their research accessible to the public. In the case of the mini-golf game, some of the underlying algorithms that drive the simulation are the same as those used in the parent research proposal. The purpose of the game is to help visitors understand how a variety of magnetic field configurations affect the motion of charged particles. The site contains several other innovative games that help translate research models and space weather-related phenomena into a form that is easier to understand for a public audience.

The Space Weather Center Web site was funded in part by NASA and the National Science Foundation. The Space Science Institute developed the Space Weather Center exhibit in partnership with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Space Weather Center Web site:
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Adapted from the Space Weather Center