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NASA Scientist to Discuss “From the Sun to Solar Wind” at Library of Congress Lecture

The public is invited to a free lecture called ‘From the Sun to Solar Wind: The Perplexing Solar Corona and the Space Environment it Creates,’ with Dr. Nicholeen Viall, NASA research astrophysicist. The talk will occur in the Pickford Theater, third floor, Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT.

woman posing in front of sun closeup
Dr. Nicholeen Viall, NASA research astrophysicist. Credits: NASA

NASA observatories examining the atmosphere of the Sun are revealing extraordinary detail in the solar corona. Material from this mysteriously super-hot outer layer expands outwards to become the solar wind, accelerating to beyond the speed of sound and bathing the planets in plasma and magnetic fields.

Viall will discuss recent observations from Solar Dynamics Observatory, Wind, STEREO, Parker Solar Probe and those expected in the upcoming PUNCH mission, which show the constantly roiling complex dynamic at work, even when the Sun is relatively quiet.

She is a speaker in the 2019 NASA Goddard Lectures Series at the Library of Congress. Earlier talks in the NASA series included the topics of space weather, improved global water security and sustainability, how Mars has changed over time, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.

The Library of Congress maintains one of the largest and most diverse collections of scientific and technical information in the world. The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world and holds nearly 151.8 million items in various languages, disciplines and formats. The Library serves both Congress and the nation online and on-site in its reading rooms on Capitol Hill.

For inquiries about this or upcoming talks at the Library of Congress, the public can contact the library’s Science, Technology and Business Division at 202-707-5664. ADA accommodations should be requested five business days in advance at 202-707-6382 (voice/tty) or ada@loc.gov.

The lecture will be later broadcast on the library’s webcast page and YouTube channel “Topics in Science” playlist.

For directions, visit: http://www.loc.gov/visit/maps-and-floor-plans/ or www.loc.gov

For information about Dr. Viall, visit:  https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/nicholeen.m.viall

For information about NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe

Banner Image: An artist’s concept of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe observing the Sun. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben​

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-4044
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov

Stephanie Marcus
Library of Congress, Washington
202-707-1192
smar@loc.gov