NOTE TO EDITORS: N00-062

MAXIMUM IMPACT! NASA, NOAA PRESENT SOLAR MAX UPDATE

The Sun has seasons and it's currently in the middle of  "storm season," or solar maximum. Using never-before-seen images  and animation, scientists will explore what makes this the most  unique solar maximum in history during a Space Science Update, "In  the Heart of the Storms," 2 p.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 21, at the  James E. Webb Auditorium, NASA Headquarters, 300 E St., SW, Washington, DC.

Panelists will include:
* Dr. George Withbroe, Science Director, Sun-Earth Connection  Program, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
* Dr. Ernest Hildner, Director, Space Environment Center, NOAA,  Boulder, CO 
* Dr. Craig DeForest, solar physicist, Southwest Research  Institute, Boulder, CO
* Dr. Nicola Fox, Science and Operations Coordinator,  International Solar Terrestrial Physics Project, Goddard Space  Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 

The science briefing will be carried live on NASA Television with  two-way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering the  event from participating NASA centers. 

NASA TV is broadcast on GE2 satellite, Transponder 9C, at 85  degrees West longitude, frequency 3880 MHz, audio 6.8 MHz. The  briefing will be webcast at: http://www.nasa.gov