WEBVTT FILE

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The Sun is a star.

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It's a star that we often describe
as average, run of the mill,

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just ordinary.

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Yet this ordinary star is responsible

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for helping to sustain all life on Earth.

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No other star that we know of
has that level of responsibility,

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and that's pretty extraordinary
if you ask me.

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The Sun is a living, breathing star.

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It is active, dynamic and ever-changing

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just like us.

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Its influence can be felt
in every aspect of society

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from agriculture and economics,
to arts and culture,

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as well as the physical, mental
and emotional health of human beings.

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The Sun touches everything.

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And to highlight the importance
of our extraordinarily

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ordinary star, NASA is hosting
the Heliophysics Big Year.

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Beginning with the annular
solar eclipse in October of 2023,

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continuing with a total solar
eclipse in April of 2024,

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and ending with Parker
Solar Probe’s closest approach

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to the Sun in December of 2024,

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the Heliophysics Big Year is a global
celebration of solar science

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and the Sun's influence on
everything.

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Over the course of the year we are
challenging everyone -

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including the public, the science
community,

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and you - to participate in as many
Sun-related activities as possible.

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Heliophysics is the study of the Sun

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and its influence on, well, everything.

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NASA has a fleet of strategically placed
spacecraft that work alongside other

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missions from NASA and space agencies
around the globe to monitor the Sun

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twenty-four seven.

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Together, we are working to increase
our understanding of solar phenomena

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such as solar flares,
the solar wind, and space weather.

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We have missions

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studying everything from Earth's uppermost
atmosphere

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where the International Space Station
lives, to our 45-year-old Voyager mission

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that is investigating the outer boundaries
of our solar system.

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We've even had one mission that
has actually entered the Sun's atmosphere.

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Parker Solar Probe touched the Sun.

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Studying these complex systems
helps us better

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understand our universe,
including our solar system,

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distant stars, exoplanets,
and our search for life on other planets.

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Understanding the Sun's activity
is critical to all of NASA's

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endeavors, especially our human
exploration efforts.

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It underpins our Artemis missions,
enables us to protect technology on Earth

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and in space, helps safeguard
our astronauts

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and allows us to voyage to Mars
and beyond.

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The Heliophysics
Big Year is a unifying effort

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designed to encourage
exploration, creativity, and wonder.

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We invite you to engage in the world

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around you with intention and curiosity.

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We invite you to experience

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the annular and total
solar eclipses with us.

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We invite you to do science

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and to experience our Sun
in different ways.

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Throughout the year, there
will be opportunities for communities

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across the globe to participate in
Sun-related activities

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such as experiencing
solar eclipses and auroras,

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joining citizen science projects
such as HARP and Spritacular, creating

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Sun-inspired art, music, fashion and food,

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and a host of other fun heliophysics
activities.

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So, please join us for the
Heliophysics Big Year

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and help us celebrate our
extraordinarily ordinary star.