Solar Physics Division (SPD)
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
The 51st meeting of the AAS Solar Physics Division (SPD) will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 10-14 August 2020, at the University of Minnesota.
The Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society solicits nominations for the 2020 Popular Media Award (for popular articles published in 2019), which is awarded to authors of popular articles about the Sun or the effects of the Sun on the Earth's environment. One award is given for an article written by a scientist; another award is given for an article written by a journalist. Nominations are due by April 6, 2020.
Important changes to SolarSoft
The SolarSoft library is distributed to the community through an anonymous FTP site at NASA/GSFC. Effective August 1st, NASA will be decommissioning unencrypted/anonymous FTP login, and so current scripts for installing and updating SolarSoft libraries (and databases) from the FTP server at GSFC will cease to function.
In preparation for this decommissioning, we are currently modifying the scripts to connect to a new server at https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/solarsoft. These modifications are not yet complete, but are expected to be working soon. We will keep the community informed of any progress.
Note that individual instrument directories are already accessible through, for example,
https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/solarsoft/soho
https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/solarsoft/hinode
and the directory structure is the same as for the ftp site.
If you have any questions or problems, a SolarSoft helpdesk has been set up at: ssw_help@grace.nascom.nasa.gov.
Dominic Zarro, Bill Thompson, Peter Young
The proposed changes to SPD Bylaws vote passed overwhelmingly, with 45% of members voting. The new bylaws are available from the Business and Bylaws page along with updated information about SPD prizes and awards.
The notes from the 2019 St Louis business meeting have also been uploaded. They too are accessible from the Business and Bylaws page.
Reports from the 2019 Metcalf travel award recipients have been uploaded.
The 51st meeting of the AAS Solar Physics Division (SPD) will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 10-14 August 2020, at the University of Minnesota.
Join us as we celebrate SPD's 50th year of advancing the study of the Sun and coordinating such research with other branches of science.
Early registration opens 12 March
Abstract submission begins 17 March
2019 HALE PRIZE: PHILIP H. SCHERRER
The 2019 George Ellery Hale Prize for outstanding contributions to the field of solar astronomy is awarded to Philip H. Scherrer (Stanford University) for his pioneering work in helioseismology and space weather, his development of innovative instrumentation to study magnetic fields and flows on the solar surface and interior, his leadership in bringing these instruments to fruition, and his dedication to serving a broad community with excellent data.
2019 HARVEY PRIZE: ANTHONY YEATES
The 2019 Karen Harvey Prize for a significant contribution to the study of the Sun early in a person's professional career is awarded to Anthony Yeates (Durham University), for his outstanding contributions to the development of magnetic field evolution models, which have advanced our understanding of how the Sun’s magnetic fields originate, evolve, and govern the dynamics of the solar corona.
SOLARNEWS
Submissions for SolarNews should now be submitted via a new form on the NSO Website.
Details can be found on our links page.
The latest edition of SolarNews is available here.