orange screen with black spot at center. plumes of darker orange shooting out

Solar Science

Since 1950, the U.S. National Science Foundation has invested in fundamental research into solar astronomy and heliophysics.

Activity on the sun, known as space weather, can affect systems on Earth. Magnetic eruptions on the sun can impact air travel, disrupt satellite communications and bring down power grids, causing long-lasting blackouts and disabling technologies such as GPS.

NSF-funded research explores the dynamic nature of the sun's behavior and its interaction with Earth’s upper atmosphere and near-Earth space, improving society's ability to predict space weather events and secure critical infrastructure. 

What we support

Solar astronomy

NSF supports the comparative study of the sun and other types of stars as well as how a star impacts the entire solar (or stellar) system.

Space weather research 

NSF supports research into the sun's electromagnetic activity and its effects on the planets to develop innovative tools for space weather prediction. 

Accelerating technological development

NSF supports the development of technology and instrumentation that advances research at observatories and other research facilities.

Plasma physics

NSF supports research on plasma: the fundamental state of matter that makes up the upper level of the sun's atmosphere.  

Facilities

A large telescope facility on the summit of a mountain above the clouds.

National Solar Observatory

NSF National Solar Observatory (NSF NSO) is a federally funded research and development center that allows physicists to explore all aspects of the sun and its impacts on the planet. It operates an extensive network of ground-based telescopes around the globe, including the NSF Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope — the largest, most powerful solar telescope on Earth.

NSF NSO also operates the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG), a worldwide network of six identical telescopes designed to observe the sun 24/7. The network provides observational capabilities critical for predicting space weather, such as solar storms, and for examining the internal structure and dynamics of the sun.

A blue and white jet with NSF and NCAR logos on it taking off.

NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory 

The NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is a federally funded research and development center and is a focal point for research in the field of atmospheric sciences. Its High Altitude Observatory observes and models sun-Earth interactions.

Program
Next Required Due Date: November 15, 2024
Supports translational research and workforce development at the interface of fundamental plasma science and technological innovation with applications such as CubeSat-based geospace measurements and space weather predictive modeling.
Posted August 3, 2022
Program
Next Required Due Date: May 2, 2025
Supports research that combines theory, modeling and observations from ground-based and space-based platforms to study changes in the atmosphere over short and long time scales.
Posted February 15, 2022
Program
Next Required Due Date: October 15, 2024
Supports translational research and workforce development at the interface of fundamental plasma science and technological innovation with applications such as CubeSat-based geospace measurements and space weather predictive modeling.
Posted September 15, 2021
Program
Next Required Due Date: September 30, 2025
Supports research on the physics of the Earth's magnetosphere and the coupling of the magnetosphere to the atmosphere and the solar wind.
Posted December 9, 2021
Program
Supports research on the magnetized plasma envelope of the outer atmosphere.
Posted September 16, 2004
Program
Next Required Due Date: November 18, 2024
Supports research in fundamental plasma physics, including the study of magnetized plasmas, high-energy-density plasmas, low-temperature plasmas, strongly coupled plasmas, non-neutral plasmas and intense field-matter interaction in plasmas.
Posted May 20, 2008
Program
Next Required Due Date: October 7, 2024
Supports research that enhances the understanding of and predictive capabilities for solar processes and their influence on the inner heliospheric environment.
Posted February 10, 2022
Program
Supports research on the processes by which energy in diverse forms is generated by the sun, transported to the Earth, and ultimately deposited in the terrestrial environment.
Posted September 16, 2004

Videos

Learn about the sun's corona from NCAR scientists through a song inspired by the song "My Sharona" by The Knack.

Learn about the various aspects of the sun and solar weather.

Explore NSO's multimedia gallery, which features imagery, videos and infographics on the sun and NSO telescopes.