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In October 2023, NASA is launching the Heliophysics Big Year – a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth, our solar system, and beyond. Modeled after the “Big Year” concept from citizen scientists in the bird-watching community, the Heliophysics Big Year challenges everyone to get involved with fun Sun-related activities.

Follow two NASA rocket teams as they launch from Australia to study our nearest stellar neighbors – Alpha Centauri A & B – on a quest to understand how stars make the planets around them suitable for life. In this final episode, head into the outback to find the fallen rockets and learn what’s being discovered about the search for habitable environments.

From forest floor to space, NASA scientists and collaborators are advancing tools and methods to predict, remotely detect, and ultimately mitigate wildfires. That process starts with understanding fire behavior, tracking them with satellites, and getting that data in the hands of land managers and communities facing record-breaking fire seasons.

Follow two NASA rocket teams as they launch from Australia to study our nearest stellar neighbors – Alpha Centauri A & B – on a quest to understand how stars make the planets around them suitable for life. In this behind-the-scenes episode, watch deleted scenes and outtakes as Miles and Mara – writers and videographers for the High Above Down Under series – recount their experience following NASA rocket teams in Australia.

On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America. Visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in South and Central America, millions of people in the Western Hemisphere can experience this eclipse. Eclipses are a wonderful experience, but it’s important to carefully follow safety procedures. During an annular eclipse, there is no period of totality when the Moon completely blocks the Sun. Therefore, it is never safe to look directly at the annular eclipse without proper eye protection specially designed for solar viewing. Do not use standard binoculars or telescopes to watch a solar eclipse without safe solar filters attached to the front of the device. Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for attempting to look directly at the Sun.

NASA's Near Space Network delivers critical communications and navigation services to missions observing the Earth, studying the Sun, and exploring the Moon and beyond. Through our network, spacecraft can send different types of data back to Earth, anything from an astronaut talking to mission control, a science image of a neutron star, and so much more. This Earth-space connection, known as Space Communications and Navigation, connects missions out to 2,000,000 kilometers away with scientists.