What is the National Solar Observatory?
The National Solar Observatory is an organization which focuses on the study of the sun. It is operated through the cooperation of the National Science Foundation and the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), a collective organization which includes member institutions from all over the United States. Two facilities are operated by the National Solar Observatory as part of its mission; these facilities are open to the public and the organization in fact encourages visitors as part of its educational outreach programs. Researchers can use the telescopes by arrangement. There are several aspects to the mission of the National Solar Observatory. The organization finds the sun to be an object of intense interest both as the nearest star and as a celestial body which has major influence on life on Earth. It promotes research of the sun by providing facilities and equipment to conduct research, along with support staff. In addition, the National Solar Observatory enga
