The sparkling solar wind: Insight from the PUNCH Mission

What if we could see a solar eclipse 24 hours a day, every day? And what if we could see how the Sun's atmosphere creates a constant stream of plasma, known as the solar wind, as it flows throughout our solar system? NASA's Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission does just this — providing a view of a solar eclipse that fills half our sky!

To celebrate World Space Week 2026, NSF NCAR’s Sarah Gibson shares observations and early science results from PUNCH, a novel constellation of four small satellites led by Boulder's Southwest Research Institute and launched in 2025. She will explain how NSF NCAR researchers and colleagues around the world are using these data to obtain global, three-dimensional views of the dynamic solar structure, connecting the Sun, solar wind, and Earth as never before.

This is a free public event recommended for ages 12+ Arrive at 6:30 to visit the newly opened Sun-Earth Connections exhibit at the Mesa Lab and engage in hands-on solar-themed activities.

This event is brought to you by the Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development (EdEC) team. Learn more on our website. For more information about public engagement and to watch archived lectures, visit the NSF NCAR Explorer Series webpage.