Sun Educator Conference
The sun is the most prominent and vital feature in our solar system. It
is the largest object and contains approximately 98 percent of the total
mass of the solar system. Since their launch in 1977, the twin Voyagers’
primary objective was to explore and study the gas giants. In 1989 both Voyagers
then became a heliospheric observation mission measuring the extent of the sun’s
influence. Voyager 1 crossed into a region at the outer edge of our solar system
in 2004, followed by Voyager 2 in 2007. In 1990, NASA launched the Ulysses mission
whose goal was to explore the sun during solar maximum, providing us with a wealth
of data that has led to a much broader understanding of the global structure of the
sun’s environment and the heliosphere. In 2004, NASA’s Genesis sample return mission
brought back a treasure trove of data collected at the Lagrange 1 point and furthered
our understanding of solar wind and improved upon the data set previously collected by
the Apollo missions.
During this day-long conference, experts from the Voyager, Ulysses, Genesis, STEREO and
Earth-exploring missions will be on hand to discuss the structure and content of the sun;
current study of its composition; solar cycles; the importance of the sun to Earth; and
the inner and outer heliosphere. We will discuss and demonstrate activities that you can
use in your classroom to promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of
space exploration.
Who: All educators (including museum staff) and students (high school and above) interested
in Earth and space science, and exploration. The conference content is generally non-technical
but does include some scientific and engineering content. The objective of the conference is
to tell the exciting tales of real-life exploration and new discovery in a way that will excite
and inspire students. Students under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a registered adult.
When: All day, Saturday, October 17. Check-in begins at 7:45 a.m. The conference will conclude by 5:00 pm.
Where: The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s von Karman Auditorium. JPL is located in the foothills of
the San Gabriel’s Mountains, north of the Rose Bowl. For directions please visit
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/about_JPL/maps.cfm.
Pre-registration is required; walk-up registration will not be possible for this conference. Note
that you will need to show a photo ID at JPL’s security checkpoint upon arrival.
How: To register for this conference, please send a check postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2009,
for $25 payable to:
"Jet Propulsion Laboratory" Sun Educator Conference
Attn: Glenda Sherman
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 600-100
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
Please register by Monday, October 5, 2009. The $25.00 registration fee includes continental
breakfast, refreshments at breaks and lunch. For registration questions, please call/contact Andrea Angrum (andrea.angrum@xxxxxxxxxxxx) at (818) 354-6775 or Aimee Meyer (aimee.l.meyer@xxxxxxxxxxxx) at
(818) 354-3245. For updates and information visit the JPL Education Gateway at http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Name________________________________________
Title_________________________________________
Organization/School_________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________ State____ Zip________
Grade(s) Taught/Enrolled_____________________________________________
Subject(s) Taught/Enrolled____________________________________________
Contact info for confirmation & last minute changes:
E-mail: ________________________________
Phone: ________________________________
Please enclose $25 Registration Fee. Check # ____________
