The SolarSTEAM National Star Party
Explore the wonders of our solar system and embark on a journey through the heliosphere and NASA heliophysics missions through this educational and entertaining livestream event. Join us on YouTube Live @NASAsolarSTEAM on Saturday, September 27, 2025. 5-11pm CDT for an evening of astronomy conversation, fun activities, student produced skits, videos, and live interviews with project scientists. Live from the Southern Illinois Star Party at SIU Carbondale, this program is produced as a collaborative effort by the Southern Illinois University School of Media Arts, the School of Physics and Applied Physics and the STEM Education Research Center in collaboration with NASA EDGE.
Event Schedule
Date
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time
5:00pm – 11:00pm CDT / 6:00pm – 9:00pm EDT
Location
Join us online via YouTube Live @NASASolarSTEAM or in-person at the Southern Illinois Star Party in Carbondale, Illinois.
Program Schedule
5PM PRE-PARTY
How to prepare for the evening. Coverage of setup and solar observations at SIU. Fun science and astronomy activities you can do at home. Hear from former and current NASA scientists engaging in conversation at the star party with visitors including SIU faculty, staff and students working on the SolarSTEAM project.
6PM MOVIE TIME
NASA coverage of the GOES U satellite launch.
7PM START THE PARTY
Telescope feeds from the SIU Astrophotography Team, discussion and video on the our solar system, going to the Moon, the DEB Initiative, Saturn and NASA Exploration.
8PM ECLIPSED
Upcoming eclipses in Spain and North Africa. Research and study abroad trips planed by SIU and the DEB Initiative.
8:40PM STORM WARNING
Life in our heliosphere. The impact of solar storms on life on earth and our space exploration. Geomagnetic storms and aurora.
9:00PM FACT VS FICTION
SIU Students and SolarSTEAM scientists dress up as their favorite Sci-Fi character and discuss the reality and fantasy of space travel as portrayed in popular film.
9:30PM INTERSTELLAR
Telescope feeds turn to deep sky objects and the big scopes start to shine at the star party as the sky darkens. Scientists talk about the NASA IMAP Probe launch happening this week.
10:00PM – 11PM REQUEST HOUR
Have something you want to see in the night sky? Requests taken via YouTube live with telescope DJ Richard spinning the SolarSTEAM and DEB telescopes for next hour. Sound design for the hour by SIU Media Arts students.