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

Winner of the SPD Popular Media Awards, 2021

The SPD is pleased to announce the winners of the SPD Popular Media Awards 2021, including the new student category award.

• Journalist: Monica Young: To Touch the Sun: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is on a record-breaking journey to study our nearest star Sky and Telescope, November 2020. Terri Dube is also recognized for graphical design and layout of the article.
• Scientist: Monica Bobra: Crossing the Edge of Our Solar System Sky & Telescope, September 2020. Nicholle Fuller is also recognized for realization of the visualization.
• Student: Cosima Breu: You Spin Me Right Round: A Magnetic Avalanche in the Solar Corona Astrobites, 2020 March 30.

Sky and Telescope have a nice writeup on the what when into creating the articles by the two Monicas! 

2021 AAS/SPD Meeting Abstract Deadline

Dear SPD Members,

Please be aware that the Solar Physics Division is meeting virtually with the AAS this summer, and the abstract deadline is coming up fast, Tuesday, 16 March. Please visit https://aas.org/meetings/aas238/abstracts to submit your abstract. The SPD scientific organizing committee is working to ensure a great program of solar related presentations, so you will not want to miss it. The summer meeting dates are 7-9 June, and the early registration deadline is 21 May.

Also, you will soon receive a ballot for the SPD elections for two open slots on the SPD Committee. Please vote!

Stay safe and healthy, and get your vaccination when you can.

Dale Gary, SPD Chair
Craig DeForest, SPD Vice Chair, SOC Chair

Generous Contributions to the Metcalf Travel Award Fund

Maria Kazachenko, Chair, SPD Metcalf Travel Award Committee reports, "About ten years ago, thanks to a major contribution from the Metcalf family, the SPD established the Thomas Metcalf Travel Award to support travel expenses of younger scientists to meetings relevant to solar physics. It was not expected that the funds would last more than 10-15 years. However, last year the SPD created a committee to explore extending the program. The committee adopted the goal of funding the program in perpetuity. Two large contributions have gotten the fund a good way toward this goal." ... Read more.

AAS Solar Physics Division Announces 2021 Hale and Harvey Prizes

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is proud to announce the 2021 winners of its two most prestigious annual scientific prizes. Dr. Russell Howard of the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC, is awarded the George Ellery Hale Prize for his seminal work on the discovery, measurement, and understanding of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Dr. Lucia Kleint of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, is awarded the Karen Harvey Prize for her contributions to solar polarimetry, radiative transfer modeling, and leadership in next-generation solar instrumentation.