NASA Universe Odyssey: Exploring the Cosmos

In this captivating video, get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at NASA's Lucy mission as it puts its cutting-edge solar arrays to the test in the thermal vacuum chamber at Lockheed Martin Space, situated in the picturesque location of Littleton, Colorado. With an impressive expanse of nearly 24 feet (7.3 m) each, the two circular arrays take center stage, poised to play a crucial role in Lucy's remarkable 12-year journey through the enigmatic Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Brace yourself for a record-breaking solar-powered adventure as Lucy defies limits, venturing an astonishing 530 million miles (853 million km) away from the Sun. Witness these monumental arrays in action, absorbing the precious sunlight that will energize the spacecraft on its profound voyage through the vast expanses of deep space.

Explore the Sun's mesmerizing dance over 33 days in this captivating visual journey! From August 12 to December 22, 2022, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured the Sun's dynamic activity in breathtaking 4K x 4K resolution. Join us as we unveil the stunning secrets of our closest star and its influence on the solar system. 🛰️ Orbiting Earth, SDO has provided a continuous stream of imagery, leading to groundbreaking discoveries about the Sun's behavior. With a trio of instruments, SDO captures the Sun's essence every 0.75 seconds. The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument alone delivers images at 10 different wavelengths every 12 seconds, revealing the Sun's outermost atmospheric layer, the corona, at 17.1 nanometers in extreme-ultraviolet. 🎥 This remarkable 133-day time-lapse condenses months of solar observations into a riveting 59-minute showcase. Watch as vibrant active regions traverse the Sun's surface, painting a vivid picture of its approximately 27-day rotation. Magnetic loops rise above these regions, capturing scorching plasma and revealing the captivating birthplace of solar flares. 🌠 While SDO diligently observes the Sun, there are moments it misses – dark frames caused by Earth or the Moon passing between the spacecraft and the Sun. These fleeting eclipses, along with instrumentation hiccups and data errors, provide a unique glimpse into the challenges of solar observation. 🔭 SDO's transmissions of 1.4 terabytes of data daily demonstrate the dedication to understanding our cosmic neighbor. Off-center sun imagery showcases SDO's meticulous instrument calibration. And the journey continues, as SDO and other NASA missions keep watch on the Sun, providing insights that shape our understanding of space and ensure the safety of our astronauts and assets. 🎶 Enjoy a harmonious blend of music from Lars Leonhard's "Geometric Shapes" album, adding an immersive layer to your exploration of the Sun's mysteries. 🔗 Subscribe to NASA Goddard's YouTube channel and stay connected to the cosmos. Embark on this enthralling journey of discovery, where science and beauty intertwine in the grand theater of space. Dive into the heart of the Sun with us, as we unravel its enigmatic tales and invite you to witness the extraordinary spectacle that unfolds in the heavens above. 🌟 Join us and be part of the solar drama as we explore the awe-inspiring beauty of the Sun's ever-changing canvas! 🌟