FSEM 130   Spaceweather: The Sun-Earth Connection

Faculty Profile for Professor Balonek

The Sun and Earth are interconnected through a phenomenon referred to as space weather. The light from the Sun influences our terrestrial climate and weather. Particles, electromagnetic radiation, and magnetic fields originating from the Sun produce changing conditions throughout the solar system. The energy generation process, structure, and features of the Sun are investigated. Space weather, which produces the beautiful aurorae, can also adversely affect humans in space, satellites, and our electronic infrastructure on Earth. Students probe the origin and nature of space weather and its impact on our modern technological society. Students who successfully complete this seminar satisfy the Core Sciences requirement.

Professor Tom Balonek is an observational astronomer whose research focuses on the study of the variability of quasars – a class of active galactic nuclei. He and his research students utilize the Colgate Foggy Bottom Observatory in this research. He enjoys stargazing from the dark skies at Colgate.