Space Weather
To try and introduce what goes on at the Millstone Observatory to High School students we have developed
our AM Radio Lesson Plan. In this lesson, students explore the differences between
AM and FM radio reception during both the day and the night. The cause of some of these effects can be
related back to the composition of the ionosphere, which is mapped by the Millstone radar. In addtion,
electromagnetic radiation, waves, and ions are discussed.
NASA has put together a web-page that further explains the relection of radio waves by a metal mesh. Check out their
site entitled: The Effects
of Earth's Upper Atmosphere on Radio Signals.
For an overview of Space Weather, including a pre/post test, check out our Space Weather Tutorial.
In the future, we hope to have a lesson plan that will link the activity on the Sun to Space Weather.
Follow the RET Page for information on developing this lesson
as part of Future RET Programs!
A Satistical Analysis of
Solar Geomagnetic Storm Occurrences, which was conducted by a high school student, can he examined here.
On our GPS Page there is a lesson that discusses variations in GPS receiver
positioning and explains how it is related to Space Weather.
To help teachers present the facilities at Haystack and the ionosphere, a Powerpoint Presention prepared
by Dr. Philip Erickson will soon be available.
In addition, a brief description of the Earth's Atmosphere can be found at this link.
For more detailed information about the Incoherent Scatter Radars, go to the Millstone Hill Homepage here at the
Haystack Observatory web-site.
781.981.5400 
