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"NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which is carrying a suite of instruments including a $32 million University of Colorado Boulder package, has provided scientists with new information that energy from some Solar flares is stronger and lasts longer than previously thought. See Also: Space & Time * Solar Flare * Sun * Northern Lights Earth & Climate * Geomagnetic Storms * Atmosphere * Energy and the Environment Reference * Solar flare * Solar radiation * Corona * Geomagnetic storm Using SDO's Extreme ultraviolet Variability Experiment, or EVE instrument designed and built at CU-Boulder, scientists have observed that radiation from Solar flares sometimes continues for up to five hours beyond the initial minutes of the main phase of a Solar flare occurrence."

"The solar cells that power solar aircraft are called photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are made of materials that absorb light energy. The PV cells in most solar planes are made of silicon. Silicon is both lightweight and efficient, so it is the best choice for solar planes where the challenge is to create an aircraft light enough to fly but with enough power to get off the ground."

7-8 July, 2010 The Solar Impulse I HB-SIA makes a circumnavigation of the planet, the first by a Solar powered aircraft. The flight also set records for length of flight and altitude for Solar powered aircraft.

"With each of their great achievements, the adventurers of the last century constantly pushed back the limits of the impossible. Today, the drive to make new discoveries must go on, not to conquer new territories but with the aim of improving the quality of life on our planet. In building the first solar aircraft able to fly day and night, and piloting it right round the world without fuel or pollution, solar Impulse's ambition is for the world of exploration and innovation to contribute to the cause of renewable energies, to demonstrate the importance of clean technologies for sustainable development; to save natural resources and reduce our dependency on fossil energy; and to place dreams and emotions back at the heart of scientific adventure."

Technologies to harness solar power as a path to low-carbon energy are developing at breakneck speed. This Spotlight looks at how developing countries can best make use of them to benefit the millions of rural poor who still live without electricity?"

"Principal architect and lead programmer for NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" software, which uses video-game technology to recreate the Solar system and the spacecraft that explore it within a web-browser."

"The Earth's climate is a solar powered system. Globally, over the course of the year, the Earth system-land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere-absorbs an average of about 240 watts of solar power per square meter (one watt is one joule of energy every second). The absorbed sunlight drives photosynthesis, fuels evaporation, melts snow and ice, and warms the Earth system."

"Student teams gain a better understanding of heat transfer and engineering by designing and building solar water-heating devices that mimic those used in residences. Once the model devices are constructed, students perform efficiency calculations and compare designs."

"celestial event that won't occur again for 105 years. On June 5, the second planet in our solar system will crawl across the surface of the sun making an epic journey called the Transit of Venus."

"Solar Walk pieces together each planet in real time and real location to give a fully accurate view of where things are, where things have been and where things are going in space. Simply tap on the planet that you wish to explore closer up."

"For nearly 35 years, NASA's Voyager 1 probe has been hurtling toward the edge of the solar system, flying through the dark void on a mission unlike anything attempted before. One day, mission controllers hope, Voyager 1 will leave the solar system behind and enter the realm of the stars-interstellar space. "

"NASA's Spacecraft 3D is an augmented reality (AR) application that lets you learn about and interact with a variety of spacecraft that are used to explore our solar system, study Earth, and observe the universe. Using a printed AR Target and the camera on your mobile device, you can get up close with these robotic explorers, see how they move, and learn about the the engineering feats used to expand our knowledge and understanding of space. Spacecraft 3D will be updated over time to include more of the amazing spacecraft that act as our robotic eyes on the earth, the solar system and beyond!"

"The Solara is intended to lift a payload to 20,000 meters and then keep it there for five years, running entirely on Solar power. It functions a bit like a satellite, except substantially cheaper and much more versatile. And, you can get it back when you're done."

Earth, our Sun and solar system, and the universe out to its farthest reaches and back to its earliest moments of existence. NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the nation's science community use space observatories to conduct scientific studies of the Earth from space to visit and return samples from other bodies in the solar system, and to peer out into our Galaxy and beyond. NASA's science program seeks answers to profound questions that touch us all

"X-Class: A Guide to Solar Flares Solar flares are classified according to their strength. The smallest ones are B-class, followed by C, M and X, the largest. A powerful X-class flare can create long lasting radiation storms, which can harm satellites, communications systems, and even ground-based technologies and power grids."

"# What Is Energy? » * Energy Basics * Forms of Energy o Laws of Energy o Sources of Energy * Energy Units Basics * Energy Calculators * Periodic Table # Energy Sources » * Nonrenewable o Oil (petroleum) o Natural Gas o Coal o Uranium (nuclear) * Renewable o Biomass o Geothermal o Hydropower o Solar o Wind * Electricity o Science of Electricity o Electricity in the U.S. * Hydrogen * Recent Statistics # Using & Saving Energy » * Energy Use Basics * Energy and the Environment o Greenhouse Gases * In Homes * In Commercial Buildings * In Industry * For Transportation * Saving Energy * Recycling # History of Energy » * Energy Timelines o Coal o Electricity o Ethanol o Geothermal o Hydropower o Municipal Solid Waste o Natural Gas o Nuclear o Oil (petroleum) o Photovoltaic o Solar Thermal o Transportation o Wind o Wood * Famous People o Alcorn (1940) o Celsius (1701) o Crosthwait (1898) o Curie (1867) o Dalton (1766) o Diesel (1858) o Drake (1819) o Edison (1847) o Einstein (1879) o Faraday (1791) o Ford (1863) o Franklin (1706) o Goddard (1882) o Goeppert-Mayer (1906) o Gourdine (1929) o Jones (1892) o Joule (1818) o Koontz (1922) o Latimer (1848) o Marconi (1874) o Maxwell (1831) o Meitner (1878) o Newton (1642) o Ohm (1787) o Oppenheimer (1908) o Otto (1832) o Pupin (1858) o Roberts (1913) o Stanley (1858) o Sto

"this organic star dust is similar in structure to complex organic compounds found in meteorites. Since meteorites are remnants of the early Solar System, the findings raise the possibility that stars enriched the early Solar System with organic compounds. The early Earth was subjected to severe bombardments by comets and asteroids, which potentially could have carried organic star dust. Whether these delivered organic compounds played any role in the development of life on Earth remains an open question."

"The gigantic dimensions of this ultra-lightweight revolutionary airplane - capable of flying day and night without fuel - are its trademark feature. To build it, the whole team had to push back the frontiers of knowledge in materials science, energy management and the man-machine interface. Every one of its take-offs, propelled silently by its four electric motors, inspires us to consider using clean, new technologies to free our society, little by little, from dependence on fossil energy. "

Although not intended to replace conventional watercraft, the PlanetSolar team make a note that it was boats that allowed the first great explorations of our world. "

Solar System Magnetism Demonstration -- Grades 5-8 The big idea of this demonstration is that the sun and Earth have different magnetic properties. Sunspots are related to magnetism on the sun. Earth has a strong simple magnetic field with two poles. The educator builds the magnetic fields using polystyrene spheres, strong magnets and staples. Then the participants make "field detectors" from simple objects to predict the locations of the fields.