The purpose of the Solar Physics Division (SPD) is the advancement of the study of the Sun and the coordination of such research with other branches of science. The SPD holds annual scientific meetings, awards several different prizes, and supports students in various ways.

NEW

Solar Physics Grad Programs

The SPD committee has put together a list of institutions offering Solar Physics Graduate Programs. For any additions, corrections, or additional information, please contact Bin Chen and Adam Kobelski.

Winners of the SPD Popular Media Awards, 2020

• Journalist: Sarah Scoles: Scientists tackle a burning question: When will our quiet sun turn violent? Science Magazine, Published 2019-05-30.

• Scientist: Ellis Avallone: A Lunar Time Machine: Secrets to our Sun’s Active Past Astrobites, Published 2019-07-08

AAS Solar Physics Division Announces 2020 Hale and Harvey Prizes

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is proud to announce the 2020 winners of its two most prestigious scientific prizes. Dr. Kazunari Shibata of Kyoto University, Japan, is awarded the George Ellery Hale Prize for his outstanding work on the properties and behavior of magnetized solar and astrophysical plasmas. Dr. Hui Tian of Peking University, China, is awarded the Karen Harvey Prize for his ultraviolet and extreme-ultraviolet observations of the Sun and what they reveal about the dynamics of the solar atmosphere.

We plan to offer the opportunity for our Hale and Harvey Prize winners, Kazunari Shibata and Hui Tian, to give webinar-style talks.  Details to be announced.

LOGO Contest Results

The SPD Committee has selected the entry by Ignacio Ugarte-Urra (NRL) as the winner of the 50th-anniversary SPD Logo contest.  An example of the new logo now graces all of the SPD web pages.  We congratulate Ignacio and thank all of the others who submitted entries.