Mike Stafford is pictured. Stafford will speak May 15 at the Martz-Kohl Observatory in Frewsburg.

FREWSBURG – The Martz Observatory in Frewsburg will host ‘The Secret Life of the Sun’ at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, live at the observatory and online via Zoom.

The presentation is hosted by Mike Stafford, a semi-retired physics instructor who taught at Penn State University full time and Gannon University as an adjunct for 37 years.He is also a pilot, a licensed parachute rigger, and expert skydiver with 3,700 jumps.

“As a physicist, interested in everything, I am able to speak on any subject, sometimes coherently,” Stafford said.

At its core, the sun is under immense pressure and scorching temperatures, hydrogen atoms undergo nuclear fusion releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This energy slowly makes its way outward, battling its way through layers of hot plasma, before radiating out into space as light and heat. The sun’s influence extends far beyond its visible surface. Solar winds, a stream of charged particles, whip out from the sun impacting Earth. Powerful eruptions can disrupt satellites and power grids here on Earth.

There will be a question and answer session after the discussion. Tours will follow. Dress appropriately for the weather as if you were outside. While the classroom is heated, the domes are not. If the weather permits, there will be public viewing opportunities. For more information, visit martzobservatory.org.

The Martz-Kohl Observatory, located at 176 Robbin Hill Road, Frewsburg, is operated by the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Association Inc. a non-profit organization devoted to the amateur astronomer.