September Monthly Meeting: Earth at Sun’s Mercy by Dr. Ryan French

Location: Zoom + In-Person at First Evangelical Lutheran Church (803 3rd Ave, Longmont, CO 80501)

Summary

Despite its seemingly unchanging appearance in the daytime sky, the Sun is incredibly dynamic and shrouded in mystery. Descended from ancestors who hailed the Sun as a deity, the way we observe the Sun has come a long way. Our scientific journey to understand the Sun has included many intriguing and humorous stories from over the centuries, including tales of 11th century monks, feuds of 17th century astronomers, and a part-time brewery owner who discovered the link between the Sun and northern lights. The influence of the Sun’s activity on the near-Earth environment is known as space weather, which has the ability to damage satellites, disrupt power grids, and deliver harmful levels of radiation to astronauts. In this talk, we’ll explore how humanity is adapting to living under a star, and how our understanding of the Sun has helped unlock the wider secrets of the universe. 

If there is demand for it, Ryan will also be selling personalized signed copies of his book, ‘The Sun: Beginner’s guide to our local star’. ($15, cash or Venmo)

Bio

Dr. Ryan French is a solar physicist at the National Science Foundation’s National Solar Observatory, science communicator, and author. Since completing his PhD in 2022, he is pursuing the mysteries of the Sun at the forefront of modern solar physics research, using cutting edge telescopes on the ground and in space. Ryan also works to share the wonders of the Sun and space with the public, through social media, public talks, and on television and radio. 

Website: www.ryanjfrench.com

Twitter & TikTok: @ryanjfrench