The public is invited to a free talk called “A Space Weather Report: Preparing Space Explorers for Bad Weather throughout the Solar System” with NASA Solar Scientist C. Alex Young in the Pickford Theater, sixth floor, Dining Room A, Madison Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT.

NASA is helping to lead the way for the next generation of explorers to reach Mars and beyond. But NASA must also keep a close eye on the weather in space. Space is far from empty and sometimes, thanks to the sun and stars, it can be downright nasty. Dr. Young explores the challenges of dealing with the harshness of space and making sure travelers can safely reach their destination as they reach for the planets and beyond.

Dr. C. Alex Young is the Associate Director for Science in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He explores the science of space weather. He also leads science communication and education activities for the Heliophysics Division and NASA Goddard.

The Library of Congress maintains one of the largest and most diverse collections of scientific and technical information in the world. The Science, Technology and Business Division provides reference and bibliographic services and develops the general collections of the library in all areas of science, technology, business and economics. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/.

The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world and holds nearly 151.8 million items in various languages, disciplines and formats. The library serves Congress and the nation both on-site in its reading rooms on Capitol Hill and through its award-winning website at www.loc.gov.

For inquiries about this or upcoming talks at the Library of Congress, the public can contact the LOC Science, Technology and Business Division at 202-707-5664. ADA accommodations should be requested five business days in advance at 202-707-6382 (voice/tty) or ada@loc.gov.

The lecture will be later broadcast on the library’s webcast page and YouTube channel “Topics in Science” playlist.

For more information contact Stephanie Marcus at smar@loc.gov or visit: http://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/ 

For directions, visit: http://www.loc.gov/visit/maps-and-floor-plans/

For information about the NASA’s Sun-Earth Science, visit:
www.nasa.gov/sunearth