[inaudible conversations] our meeting will come to order. Good morning and welcome to todays hearing that totality and i recognize myself for the Opening Statement and we need to finish the hearing before 1030 in the morning. We know we will be inspired by our Witnesses Today to harness the enthusiasm for the clips that we saw when people came together so my husband is a math teacher so he really is excited with whole generation of students that are interested and you translate that into a stem career were starting to hear from the Witnesses Today and now what will recognize the Ranking Member , the gentleman from california for his Opening Statement. The . . . Is exciting on august 21st i went to the Science Center in sacramento but was great is the number of kids that were out there with their glasses and amateur astronomers and that generation of scientists encouraging those to visit those hero scientist but she was one of the most enthusiastic people i have seen. The african have this enthusiasm and excitement i will keep my comments short. I now recognize the chairman of the full committee. Than to witness a rare even of a Solar Eclipse. It was a profound experience for anyone fortunate enough to be in the path of totality exceeding its exciting even witnessing a partial eclipse. It has evaded previous generations inspiring a whole new group to study the universe and beyond the 1878 eclipse inspired Thomas Edison taking a trip to wyoming to measure the suns corona. The experiment failed but inspired him to think of white and transmission of power but then the next year he invented the label. Who knows what this eclipse will inspire but it has already has enthusiasm for astrophysics and astrophysics with sen education lessons and Citizen Science engaging millions of americans. Hearing from a panel of witnesses. Looking forward to seeing those photos and videos what scientific studies can come and hearing what is next for solar science. What is to discover more of the universe around us. To turn enthusiasm for the Great American eclipse that lasts far beyond the two minutes of totality. I yield back. Madam chairman, i like to start by thanking our colleagues in witnesses coming forward in this interesting hearing something that struck me is the level of excitement generated all across the United States it brought us together but also the of web traffic skyrocketed seven times higher than the previous record the online viewing audience compared to the super bowl. Even netflix loss 10 of the days viewership and schools across the country inc. The clips into their teaching programs note telling how it captured their fascination and how they thoroughly enjoyed to explain including to my grandchildren though little cereal boxes that we made but a rare curb an wonderful event. As an inspiration to our youth and the way it was like a Space Mission brought into our own backyard. I am excited of the 2024 eclipse that could be more impressive because the path of totality troubles right across my home state of texas. Thank you for your testimony and i look forward to that. I yield back. I will now introduce our witnesses the first witness is the acting assistant director for physical Science Foundation and the assistant director of the observatory with the baseline array of radio telescopes for with the jet propulsion and laboratory from university of california los angeles and from the university of maryland. The second witness today. [laughter] is associate administrator previously served as a professor at the university of michigan working on several Science Missions like the messenger spacecraft and also having his ph. D. In physics from switzerland. The third witness is the executive Vice President for research and astronomy a group of institutions astronomical observatories including the National Optical observatory and the jim and i observatory serving as one that devises nasa on the development of the James Webb Space Telescope repair receiving her undergraduate degree from m. I. T. And also our fourth witness dr. Penn astronomer at the National Solar observatory in arizona. He works on the eclipse experiment. To specifically working in high eight hawaii with instrumental requirements has his degree from caltech in astronomy and also from the university of ye. Our last witness is the director of public observing at the planetarium in chicago. Weld developing shows and programs she also leads the telescope and observatory area. Has her degree in physics and astronomy from university of illinois and masters of education degree and i now recognize that our first witness for his testimony. Thank you. Chairman and Ranking Members and members of the subcommittee i. M. The assistant director for mathematical director at the national Science Foundation figures for the opportunity to testify today and will focus on the socalled Research Efforts and a large scale of Reach Associated so august 21st is an expedite an exciting day with the total Solar Eclipse the first in the continental United States since 1979. So those from around the world gathered across a the country for this extraordinary event. The total Solar Eclipse also might wusses blocked for over two minutes organ through South Carolina with a 70 myall why pass a 70mile wide path. So the sun is the basis for life on earth to with the Magnetic Field to affect the power grid amba Communication System and the fundamental importance to sponsor a broader way of research. Interactive development of sunspots to recapture on technology so during the eclipse so the nsf our Atmosphere Research in partnership with the smithsonian flew aboard the gulfstream five research collecting infrared data there are not results yet but they will be here over the next year. So researchers then general study the behavior of the sun like the solar storms coming toward earth so the Network Group of six silver monitoring telescopes provides full time monitoring of the sun and is this based forecasting models. So first i want to say it is delivered by a factor of a thousand by the High School Teacher in the random citizens in amateur astronomers. So one experiments that had an experiment of identical telescopes along the path of totality highschool groups and universities. So we were pleased to be in wyoming this of full increase in population for one day you will hear more about this later but with the American Astronomical Society including a program with 31 projects in 21 states. As far as the future goes the new centerpiece will be complete in hawaii. And give researchers a closeup view of the solar corona without having to wait for a Solar Eclipse be enhanced understanding will undoubtedly contribute to better predictions of the other in the future solar weather in the future in the attempt of wonder and curiosity with that basic research will revolutionize the future and were looking forward to the next eclipse and 2024 and also 2023 so you have day six much rehearsal and we enjoy the support of the public will dash a public for their ongoing support to serve the people of the United States. Madam chair and members of the subcommittee as day Mission Director with thousands of volunteers in partners employees make that eclipse the biggest media event in the modern history of nasa you explain the experience and to say that monday august reversed across the continental u. S. Almost a first time in a century but 45,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean in the aircraft got fitted with science experiments for before during and after the event. Look. Look. Incredible. Do you see that just before . That is absolutely amazing. See the ring november . Of amber . I was excited you can tell per owosso per broker or was so excited i called it the wrong name. It is called the diamond ring. Our project manager is a champion for the eclipsed to working with the nasa team over three years to keep focused on priorities with Public Engagement set to accomplish these we could not do it alone the entire agency rallied for with major functions and defense the eclipse was the biggest our reach in modern nasa history working with partners to be engaged across 14 states nearly 7,000 libraries it to museums and planetariums and Science Centers and National Parks and baseball stadiums. More than 50 million across national the nasa platforms these numbers exceed previous records. It was clear not only professionals were moved but a mitschers alike. This is what nasa science does for us every day. So now from the various assets 11 are focused on this event as well as the aircraft and like a not help myself launching next year their probe traveling closer to the sun bin any time before hoping to expand the probe of. Really bad is the rosettas stone to understand all stars in the universe. And then to take advantage of the unique opportunities those that were selected that measure is the hall to the atmosphere and later the capability for what is happening in that region. To suspect a word about safety this is prove critical to. With 4. 3 million. In closing let me talk about geophysics and improve life on earth and then to see that soars with the naked eye. I suggest. Madam chair and members the for the opportunity to testify to the Solar Eclipse. They witnessed the total Solar Eclipse as day disappeared from the sky they scrambled as much data as possible from the crowd of. The suns corona is the source of the solar storm for go that refers to the effect of the solar system. We live inside the atmosphere of an active star. In 1859a monster solar storm stunned the world those telegraph systems worldwide emitting sparks that not only short shocked the operators beset the paper on fire. It is sobering to imagine that disruption of that type of storm with todays infrastructure with the gps satellite. That is why with us a Critical National imperative. Into studied the sun after a corona. And then the National Solar observatory but when completed in in 2020 to use the most powerful telescope. To have the suns corona and Magnetic Field so let me return to the of a Solar Eclipse that is a unique opportunity to Public Engagement. And focusing efforts at the safety. And with a social Media Campaign with a variety of content including a monthly web cast. So is though to be participating in the solar our reach events. The first is in wyoming all these years of effort to prepare a Tiny Community of to the people. And though will call Sheriffs Office said 185,000 people descended the second event in salem or again focused on High School Students and to train a dozen students all of whom are minorities in the stem field to be ambassadors for science and to lead programs for the community. Looking to the future another Solar Eclipse will sweep the country from texas to mean that were planning to engage students in the of underrepresented groups well in advance to prepare a new set of students than for my colleague to develop the Ambitious Program to combine Public Engagement with science and i would like to share a video of several young people in his program. When alexis from the Reservation School in northern montana. Taking a road trip with their Science Teacher to study the eclipse. Is an amazing opportunity this is real life science to help them to be exposed what opportunities there are in the future. We were trying to get pictures. When the moment finally arrived at darkness descended and then it revealed itself. The toll Solar Eclipse. And then before they knew it , it was over. These remote kids the two minutes in 27 seconds will stay with them for a lifetime. These young people help us to gather those eclipse data ever recorded and now i turn it over to you dr. Penn to describe his program i appreciate your attention. Dr. Penn . Madam chair members of the subcommittee things for the invitation to speak about citizens cape experiment crying tears of joy the students from the highschool it was raining in nebraska but jack and the students were eager to collect data it speaking with the radio and tv reporters from the program. The Media Coverage coverage across the nation finding decade students citizens cape students not known for scoring a touchdown with doing a stem project but even then we have a gap in the understanding and opens up a window to allow us to study the inner corona in the citizen kane experiment is designed to take advantage of that opportunity from the data that fills the gap of our understanding of the corona. So with the north and south poles through the of then magnetic structures like sitting across the table watching your daughter drink a milkshake through the invisible straw. We can measure the velocity of the solar wind. But that has implications and is critical be understand it. On the day of the eclipse they had enormous success 62 images collected of the corona into a were joined to show those eclipse models to take data on that 50 hardline inez stadium of 5,000 cheering fans. And then to capture images with their telescope on the left you can see the of corona to be filtered on the of a right ashley enhanced that brings out details you cannot see with your i. Each shows the of solar atmosphere more than a million miles across. B just a two minutes you dont see a lot of changes during that short period of time but when combined allows us to see changes of 93 minutes of time. So put together to collect 45,000 images of the corona that day but in four weeks could only process 300 to show today. If the moon is that the 7 00 position you concede those moving away from the sun and 20,000 Miles Per Hour which is pretty slow the now 5 00 you can see it quicker that is from the south pole of the sun traveling 200,000 Miles Per Hour per pro even just 1 percent analyzed now we get a new view of the solar corona we have not seen before. I will close to sit total Solar Eclipse is been a humbling experience teaches us were smart enough to predict when developer and to the next eclipse is visible april 8, 2024 but if we go further to figure out went is it visible from dallas texas we can predict what 57 00 p. M. On saturday june 30th, 2345. Mark your calendars. It is a humbling experience teaches us we have no control and that we are Little People sitting on the big rock watching the show it doesnt matter your nationality or a george under, total Solar Eclipse is a moving and Human Experience ive afford to enjoying the next total Solar Eclipse with all of you in 2024 and in answering your questions. Thank you for this opportunity to testify august 21st, and millions of people gathered with friends and family say and strangers with the tens of thousands so no matter the size of the group with that astronomical spectacle. And those efforts of public impeachment those organizations as the Astronomical Society of the pacific helps institutions and groups talk to each other. Serving as a Clearing House for the content to help the media and the public and the educators. University of missouri columbia about many audience engagement lead levels. To organize those students with the path of totality wanted to enjoy the sight of the partial eclipse. Reaching millions across the country. We had several goals. Increase the capacity of organizations around the chicago area, make the residence in the region aware of what is happening to empower them with the school the skills and tools what they need as a trusted source of information bin to get them interested in the universe even if not previously . And to bring chicago together. Our e events were free and open to everyone. In addition we brought that Outreach Program at 2,300 people in southern illinois. We are honored to be asked to a system planning to facilitate those events with international attention. In to distribute free of charge 250,000 safe eclipse viewing glasses including 10,000 given to schools to help students watch the eclipse during the school day. The Chicago Public blubbery system held activities that dozens of branches. The parks hel