The Heliophysics Big Year
The Heliophysics Big Year is a global celebration of the Sun’s influence on Earth and the entire solar system. From Oct. 14, 2023, to Dec. 24, 2024, we are challenging you to participate in as many Sun-related activities as you can!
A Big Year for Our Sun
During the Heliophysics Big Year, we are challenging you to participate in as many Sun-related activities as you can!
Whether it's watching a solar eclipse, experiencing an aurora, participating in citizen science projects, or hosting a Sun party, we've got a year full of ways to celebrate the Sun!
Learn more from Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.
Highlights of the Big Year
Annular Eclipse
On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular eclipse was visible from parts of the western United States.
Parker Solar Probe's Closest Approach
On Dec. 24, 2024, a record-breaking NASA mission will make its closest approach of the Sun.
Monthly Themes
Environment and Sustainability
September 2024
The Sun is a powerful source of energy. From solar power to photosynthesis, it energizes essential processes across the solar system. For example, at Earth, NASA’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) mission studied how climate change may influence noctilucent, or night-shining, clouds in our upper atmosphere.
This month looks at how heliophysics research — which includes the Sun and the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere — is influential in environment and sustainability efforts on Earth.
Environment and Sustainability
September 2024
There are many fun activities to learn about the connection between heliophysics and the environment!
– No campfire? No problem! Make s’mores with just the Sun’s energy by creating your own solar oven: https://youtu.be/yOStEIsiY0Y
– The Space Place Experiment Center can help you conduct real-life science experiments and learn how the world works. Use this page to do an experiment using light!
– In this lesson for high schoolers, students model solar energy inputs at different locations, analyze the cost-effectiveness of installing solar panels, and determine the appropriate locations for solar panels.
– In the pairing game Helios! keep the Sun shining bright by matching up particles. The goal? To convert hydrogen atoms into helium atoms. This process is called nuclear fusion and it’s how the Sun creates energy.
Environment and Sustainability
September 2024
Earth strives to maintain a balance between the overall amount of incoming and outgoing energy at the top of the atmosphere. This is called Earth’s energy budget or radiation budget.
Earth receives incoming energy from the Sun. Our planet also emits energy back to space.
For Earth’s temperature to be stable over long periods of time (for the energy budget to be in balance), the amount of incoming energy and outgoing energy must be equal. If incoming energy is more than outgoing energy, Earth will warm up. If outgoing energy is greater than incoming energy, Earth will cool down.
