The Sun and Space Weather: More Than Meets the Eye with local NASA Solar System Ambassadors

The sun’s influence on Earth goes far beyond providing light and warmth. Its constant activity—solar flares, winds, and magnetic storms—creates what scientists call space weather. In Alaska, we see one of its most beautiful effects: the aurora. But solar activity also affects satellites, power grids, and radio communication. As humans prepare for missions to Mars and beyond, understanding how space weather shapes our environment becomes essential for keeping explorers—and our technology—safe in space.