Solar physicist Paal Brekke delivers a multimedia presentation on the science behind the northern light in Washington, D.C, on Sunday, October 30. The presentation is followed by the exciting 40 minutes IMAX film Solarmax.
What could be more beautiful on a cold winter night than catching a glimpse of the northern lights dancing across the sky? This stunning phenomenon is embedded in the mythology of many cultures and has been characterized as everything from dancing spirits to God’s anger.
Solar physicist Paal Brekke, who has extensively studied the sun and aurora borealis, explains the science behind the phenomenon that was given its scientific name by Galileo (“red dawn of the north”). Brekke delivers a multimedia presentation and discusses how solar particles are captured by Earth’s magnetic field and guided to the magnetic poles. After his presentation, participants view the exciting 40-minute IMAX film Solarmax, which takes the audience on an incredible voyage from prehistory to the leading edge of modern science.
Paal Brekke, formerly with the European Space Agency’s team at the Goddard Space Flight Center, is senior adviser at the Norwegian Space Center in Oslo.
When: Sunday, Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History, 10th & Constitution Ave., NW
Resident Members $30; Senior Members $27, Gen. Admission $40; Full-time Students with IDs $15