Citizen scientists invited to contribute to aurora research

The upcoming NASA LAMP rocket launch from Poker Flat Research Range presents an opportunity for “citizen scientist” involvement through Aurorasaurus, a project funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation. The launch window is open through March 10.

“Citizen science can be a way to go from a curiosity to a passion to learning more and maybe even making a discovery or asking a great question about some mysteries of aurora,” said Aurorasaurus founder Elizabeth MacDonald, a space plasma physicist at Goddard and leader of NASA’s Heliophysics Citizen Science Strategic Working Group.

Here is how you can participate as a citizen scientist:

Submit your questions about pulsating aurora on Twitter by tagging both @LAMP_rocket and @tweetaurora or send them by email to aurorasaurus.info@gmail.com.

If you get a photograph of a pulsating aurora, you can help by submitting your observations to Aurorasaurus. Go to www.aurorasaurus.org and click “Yes” next to “Did You See the Aurora?” at the top of the page. Then, fill out the quick form.