ESA celebrates Sun-Earth Day on 27-28 April 2001

Our Sun plays a central role in daily life, by warming and lighting the world, and powering the growth of living plants. Since ancient times, mankind has been aware of its importance, although not always understanding how or why. Now in the space age, man-made satellites monitor and probe the environs of the Sun, observing subtler and sometimes damaging effects on Earth. Studying this "space weather", the collective term used to describe effects originating from the Sun, is an increasingly important activity in our technology-dependent society.

Solar storms are responsible for many dramatic events. A nine-hour power blackout in Canada, disabled satellites and corroded pipelines have all been blamed on the Sun. Even increased radiation risks to airline passengers and crews can result from high solar activity. Forecasting the space weather can alert us to upcoming storms and appropriate actions can be taken to minimise the impact of these events. The ability to forecast comes from our improved understanding of solar events which has been facilitated by solar physics research, including important contributions from six spacecraft built in Europe: SOHO stationed far out in space, the four Cluster satellites orbiting together around the Earth, and Ulysses, which flies over the poles of the Sun.

ESA invites you to join in an international effort, to promote public awareness of the dynamics of our Sun and its influence on the Earth. On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the ESA/NASA SOHO mission, this is an appropriate opportunity to highlight how solar physics research, both from space and from the ground, contributes valuable information which can impact on our daily life.

Events in local languages, at more than 40 locations throughout Europe, will celebrate this international Sun-Earth day with the support of ESA.

City
Location	Event type
Co-ordinator, E-mail address	Tel./Fax.
Austria
Graz
Institute of Geophysics, Astrophysics and Meteorology	Public lecture
Prof. Dr. Hanslmeier Arhugam06ws.KFUniGraz.ac.at	+43 316 380 9825 +43 316 380 5270
Belgium
Brussels
Planetarium, Heizel http://sidc.oma.be	Public lecture
David Berghmans David.Berghmansksb-orb.oma.be	+32 2 3730 224 +32 2 3730 559
Denmark
Aarhus
Steno Museet	Public lecture
Joergen Christensen-Dalsgaard Jcdifa.au.dk	+45 89 423 614 +45 86 12 0 740
Copenhagen
IMAX/ Tycho Brahe Planetarium	Public lecture
M. Linden-Vornle Mykaltycho.dk	+45 33 181 9 97 +45 33 181 990
Jels
Orion Planetarium	Public lecture
Henrik Svensmark hsvdsri.dk	+45 74 55 24 00 +45 74 55 26 55
United Kingdom
London
IMAX London Science Museum	Public lectures, Exhibition, SOLARMAX
Richard Harrison Harrisonsolg2.bnsc.rl.ac.uk	+44 1235 44 6884 +44 1235 44 6667
University of Central Lancashire
University of Central Lancashire	Public lectures
Robert Walsh Rwwalshuclan.ac.uk	+44 1772 89 3557 +44 1772 89 2996
Aberystwyth
University of Wales	Public lecture
Shadia Habbal Habbalcfa.harvard.edu	+44 1970 622 218 +44 1970 622 826
Armagh
Armagh Observatory	Public lecture
G. Doyle jgdstar.arm.ac.uk	+44 283 752 2928 +44 283 752 7174
Germany
Hamburg
Hamburg Planetarium http://www.hamburg.de/Planetarium	Public lecture, Exhibition
Thomas W. Kraupe tomkraupeyahoo.com	+49 405 149 8515 +49 405 149 8510
Sinsheim
IMAX Theatre	Public lectures (22 May 2001)
Udo Schühle schuehlelinmpi.mpg.de	+49 555 697 9458 +49 555 697 96458
Bremen
Olbers-Gesellschaft kusserowgome5.physik.uni-bremen.de	Public lectures
Klaus Wilhelm Wilhelmlinmpi.mpg.de	+49 555 697 9423 +49 555 697 9240
Freiburg
Planetarium http://www.kis.uni-freiburg.de/kiswwwe.html	Public lectures
Hubertus Woehl Hwkis.uni-freiburg.de	+49 761 319 8174 +49 761 3198 111
Greifswald
Max Planck Institute	ESA 2000 Space Science Exhibition Opening Public Lectures
Frank Jansen jansenphysik.uni-greifswald.de	+49 3834 864 774 +49 3834 864 701
Berlin
Archenholt-Planetarium	Public lectures
Udo Schühle schuehlelinmpi.mpg.de	+49 555 697 9458 +49 555 697 96458
France
Paris
Cité des Sciences-La Villette http://www.cite-espace.com http://www.medoc-ias.u-psud.fr/divers/progsoho5.html	SolarMax show, conferences
Jean-Claude Vial Vialias.u-psud.fr Frederic Baudin Baudinias.u-psud.fr	+33 169 858 631 +33 169 858 701
Toulouse
Cité de l’Espace	Public lectures
Mr. Droneau p.droneaucite-espace.com	+33 562 716 480 +33 561 807 470
Spain
Madrid
Planetario de Madrid	Public lecture
Juan Sequeiros juan.sequeirosuah.es	+34 918 854 994 +34 918 854 942
Valencia
L’Hemisferic	Public lectures, exhibition, Solarmax
Vicente Domingo Vincenteuma.uv.es	+34 96 398 3607 / 3229 +34 96 398 3261
Barcelona
IMAX Port Vell http://www.ub.es/sol-terra	Public lectures, exhibition, Solarmax
Vincent Domingo Vdomingoam.ub.es	+34 93 402 1126 +34 93 402 1133
Teneriffe / LaLaguna
Science Museum and University	Public lectures, Sun observation Activities
Luis Cuesta Crespo lccll.iac.es	+34 922 605 200 +34 922 605 293 +34-922-605210
Portugal
Porto
CAUP Planetarium http://www.astro.up.pt/news/	Public lectures, Paletarium shows, exhibition
Ricardo Samuel Reis Ricreisastro.up.pt	+35 122 608 9836 +35 12 26 08 98 31
Italy
Firenze, Prato, Pisa, Padova
Universita' di Firenze	High school and public lectures
Marco Romoli romoliarcetri.astro.it	+39 055 275 2281 +39 055 224193
Torino
Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino	Public lecture
E. Antonucci antonuccito.astro.it	+39 011 810 1913 +39 011 8101930.
Catania
Lyceo scientifico Galileo Galilei http://www.liceoscientificogalilei.catania.it	Lecture to 300 students
D. Spadaro Dspadaroalpha4.ct.astro.it	+39 095 733 2234 +39 095 330592
Trieste
Trieste Astronomical Observatory	Public lectures to schools and University
Mauro Messerotti Messerottits.astro.it	+39 040 226176 / 226761 +39 040 226630 / 309418
Rome
University La Sapienza & Military Academy Livorno	Public lectures
Alessandro Cacciani Alessandro.caccianiromal.infn.it	+39 064 991 4462 +39 06 4975695
Palermo
University of Palermo	Public lectures
Fabio Reale Reale astropa.unipa.it	+39 091 233 237 +39 091 233 444
Napoli
Osservatorio di Capodimonte	Public lectures
Thomas Strauss Straussna.astro.it	+39 081 557 5526 +39 081 456710
Norway
Oslo
University	Public lectures, SOLARMAX, Exhibition
Knut Jørgen R. Ødegaard knutjoastro.uio.no	+47 22 857 522 +47 22856505
Bergen
University	Lectures
Arve Aksnes Arve.Aksnesfi.uib.no	+47 55 589 406 +47 55 58 94 40
Sweden
Lund
Lund University IDEON 0r Paleastra http://www.irfl.lu.se/	Lectures
Henrik Lundstedt henrikirfl.lu.se	+46 462 862 120 +46 461 29879
Malmö
Malmö University, libraries and museums	Public lectures
Henrik Lundstedt henrikirfl.lu.se	+46 462 862 120 +46 461 29879
Kiruna
University	Public lectures
Henrik Lundstedt henrikirfl.lu.se	+46 462 862 120 +46 461 29879
The Netherlands
Middelburg
Volkssterrenwacht Philippus Lansbergen http://www.lansbergen.demon.nl	Public lecture
Jelle de Plaa philippuslansbergen.demon.nl	+31 118 638 018
Haarlem
Volkssterrenwacht Copernicus http://www.vuurwerk.nl	Public lecture
vstwcopxs4all.nl	+31 235 383 339
Roden
Amateurbijeenkomst Roden, het wapen van Drenthe	Public lecture
Theo Jurriens theo_jurrienscompuserve.com
Amersfoort
Volkssterrenwacht de Schothorst	Public lecture
Bob van Slooten slootenworldonline.nl	+31 334 559 616
Dwingeloo
Planetron	Public lecture
Albert Weishaupt aweishauptplanetron.nl	+31 521 593 535
Goirle
Mill-Hillcollege	Public lecture
Ton Spaninks tonelwish.net	+31 135 422 534
Leiden
Sterrewacht Leiden	Public lecture
Martijn Nuyten cacabersyahoo.com	+31 715 223 770
Switzerland
Luzern
Verkehrshaus http://www.pmodwrc.ch	Public lecture
Claus Frolich cfrohlichpmodwrc.ch	+41 814 175 136 +41 814 175 100
Finland
Vantaa
Heureka Science Centre	Symposium
T. Pulkkinen Tuija.pulkkinen.fmi.fi	+358 9 1929 4654 +358 9 1929 4603
Vantaa
Heureka Science Centre	Public lecture
Eino Valtonen Eino.Valtonenutu.fi	+358 2 333 5644 +358 2 333 5993

United States

Washington DC
National Air and Space Museum	Public Lectures, IMAX
Don Michels Michelslasco11.nascom.nasa.gov	301 286 3550 301 286 0264
Greenbelt MA
Howard B. Owens Science Centre	Public Lectures
Joe Gurman
New Hampshire
McAuliffe Planetarium	Public Lectures
Angela Ciaravella aciaravellacfa.harvard.edu Jeanne Gerulskis Jgerulsstarshop.com	603 271 7831 603 271 7832
New Hampshire
University New Hampshire	Public Lectures
Dr Eberhard Moebius	603 862 3097 603 862 0311
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics	Public Lectures
John Kohl jkohlcfa.harvard.edu David Aguilar (SAO Public Affairs) daguilarcfa.harvard.edu	617 495 7462 617 495 7468
Boston, Massachusetts
Museum of Science	Public Lectures
Leonard Strachan (English) lstrachancfa.harvard.edu Mari Paz Miralles (Spanish) mmirallescfa.harvard.edu Noreen Grice (Hayden Planetarium, Museum of Science) ngricemos.org	617 589 0273 617 589 0454
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley College (Department of Astronomy)	Public Lectures
Danuta Dobrzycka Tel. 617 496 7568 ddobrzyckacfa.harvard.edu Prof. Richard French rfrenchfirstclass.wellesley.edu	781 283 3747 781 283 3667
New Concord, Ohio
Muskingum College	Public Lectures
Bogdan Valcu (Muskingum College) bogdan_valcuhotmail.com Janice Tucker jtuckermuskingum.edu	740 826 8024 740 826 8026
Melrose, Massachusetts
Melrose Middle School	Public Lectures
Jennifer Raymond jkraymondcfa.harvard.edu	617 496 7599 617 495 7455
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord-Carlisle High School	Public Lectures
Daniel Phillips dhphillipscfa.harvard.edu	617 496 7926 617 495 7455
Somerville, Massachusetts
Cummings School	Public Lectures
Irene Porro iporrocfa.harvard.edu Mr. David Gilberti (principal)	617 625 6600, ext. 6425 617 776 6691
College Park, Maryland
University of Maryland	Public Lectures
Yuan-Kuen Ko ykocfa.harvard.edu	301 286 3136 301 286 0264

Canada

Vancouver, BC
H. R. Macmillan Space Centre	Public Lectures
Peter Smith Tel. 617 495 4984 psmithcfa.harvard.edu Heather Armond harmondhrmacmillanspacecentre.com	604 738 7827, ext. 249 604 736 5665

Last Update: 19 July 2006

Related Links

• ESA Space Weather Web Service (http://www.esa-spaceweather.net/index.html)

See also

• What happened on Sun-Earth Day? (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=38194)
• SOHO Mission (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=14)
• Cluster Mission (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=8)
• Ulysses Mission (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=11)