As we become more reliant on satellites, our vulnerability to space weather increases. And with the sun reaching the maximum of its 11-year activity cycle in the year 2000, space weather is becoming a hot topic.

A series of x-ray images of the sun, showing it's evolution from solar minimum (right) to solar maximim. Courtesy Lockheed Martin/Yohkoh.

Satellites now play a role in everything from television to pagers to car navigation systems. And these satellites are all vulnerable to space weather. As the sun's activity peaks in the year 2000 there are liable to be an increased number of solar events and a corresponding increase in media coverage. This will raise both the public's awareness and interest of space weather issues. In addition, there is an unprecedented number of space missions in operation that will allow us to observe the results of this solar maximum as never before.

The Space Weather Center takes advantage of this timely opportunity to engage the public with stunning graphics, hands-on interactives, and near-real time results from the latest scientific research spacecraft, all in a compact exhibit which fits in a 750 to 1000 square foot space.