ABSTRACT

Solar eclipses present a unique canvas for both scientific exploration and public engagement. Over the next seven months, the United States will witness two captivating solar eclipses that offer scientists and the public unprecedented opportunities to understand our closest star, the Sun, and its effects on Earth. On October 14, 2023, an annular eclipse will traverse a path from the United States to Brazil, while on April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep its way across North America. NASA has a significant role in orchestrating a nationwide engagement effort to promote science and engineering. Beyond being awe-inspiring public spectacles, these eclipses offer a natural experimental platform for enhancing our understanding of the intricate Sun-Earth connection. NASA is funding five research projects and three citizen science initiatives targeting the eclipses. Through a synthesis of past discoveries, current scientific pursuits, and future engagement endeavors, this presentation will explore the captivating interplay between celestial events, scientific advancement, and public involvement.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Michael Kirk is a research scientist in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. He is the Principal Investigator of NASA's Heliophysics Education Activation Team (NASA HEAT). Dr. Kirk is a Co-investigator on the SunCET CubeSat mission, launching in 2024. In addition, he is helping to lead NASA Goddard's Center for HelioAnalytics which seeks to integrate data science into heliophysics to better the physics of the sun, the causes of solar variability, and its impacts on Earth. Dr. Kirk received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from New Mexico State University, where his research focused on automated tracking of chromospheric bright points and their connection to solar eruptions. During this time, he also worked for the Air Force Research Laboratory at the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, NM. Upon graduation, in 2013, he joined the Heliophysics division as a fellow with the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP).