NASA's Curious Universe: Eclipses, Auroras and Citizen Science in Solar Physics

Overview

NASA's Curious Universe episode 3 explores how the Sun shapes life on Earth and how ordinary people help science during solar events. The episode weaves together solar eclipses, auroras and comet activity, highlighting three citizen science projects that invite public participation: Eclipse Soundscapes, Aurorasaurus and Sungrazer. Through personal stories, NASA research and historical anecdotes, the podcast shows how everyday observations translate into meaningful heliophysics data.

• Three citizen science projects empower public participation in solar physics.
• Public observers contribute to understanding auroras and animal responses to solar events.
• SOHO and other missions reveal how comets interact with the Sun.
• Practical guidance for eclipse viewing and ways to stay involved post-eclipse.

Introduction and Context

The episode is a continuation of NASA's sun series and situates heliophysics within a busy year of solar activity, eclipses and notable missions like Parker Solar Probe. The hosts frame the discussion as a five-part deep dive into the Sun and its influence on Earth, with a focus on citizen science as a way to broaden data collection and public engagement.

Heliophysics Big Year and Citizen Science

The hosts explain the concept of a heliophysics big year inspired by birding traditions, explaining how citizen scientists can help scientists interpret vast datasets and observe rare events. Liz McDonald introduces the idea of citizen science as a bridge between everyday curiosity and formal research, emphasizing data volume and geographic reach as key challenges for heliophysics.

Three Stopovers: Eclipse Soundscapes, Aurorasaurus and Sungrazer

The podcast spotlights three citizen science projects. Eclipse Soundscapes focuses on the multisensory experience of eclipses, describing an app and an audio tactile interface designed to help blind and low-vision people navigate totality and related wildlife responses. Aurorasaurus connects ground observers with satellite data to map auroral activity, and to document how auroral events affect people and ecosystems. Sungrazer, powered by the SOHO spacecraft, crowdsources discovery of sun-grazing comets, highlighting the role of volunteers in tracking comets that approach the Sun and the accidental discovery of thousands of such objects over decades.

Historical and Modern Data Streams

The Eclipse Soundscapes segment draws on Wheeler's 1932 Boston study of animals during eclipses and juxtaposes it with modern, tech-enabled data collection using audio moths and distributed sensors. The Aurorasaurus project is presented as a successful example of citizen science turning raw photos and field observations into actionable science, including the surprising re-discovery of Steve, a pink aurora feature, via satellite correlations. Sungrazer demonstrates how a public outreach site from SOHO has become a major source of comet identifications, driving major scientific insights into sun-grazing comets and solar wind interactions.

Closing Messages

In closing, the hosts encourage ongoing curiosity and participation, underscoring that eclipses and other solar phenomena are multisensory events that offer rich learning opportunities. The episode closes with credits and practical advice for participating in eclipse soundscapes and in ongoing citizen science efforts.