130 Days on the Sun

This video chronicles the solar activity that occurred between August 12 and December 22, 2022, as captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Positioned in space around Earth, the SDO has consistently recorded high-resolution images of the Sun for nearly 13 years. This wealth of data has led to numerous groundbreaking discoveries regarding the Sun's behavior and its impact on the solar system.

Equipped with three sophisticated instruments, the SDO captures a snapshot of the Sun every 0.75 seconds. Notably, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument records images at 10 distinct wavelengths of light every 12 seconds. The showcased 133-day time-lapse presentation focuses on images captured at a wavelength of 17.1 nanometers, which falls in the extreme-ultraviolet spectrum and reveals the Sun's outermost atmospheric layer known as the corona. By compiling images taken with a 108-second interval, this video effectively condenses 133 days (roughly four months) of solar observations into a 59-minute presentation. The footage showcases the passage of bright active regions across the Sun's surface as it completes a rotation, a process taking approximately 27 days. Prominently visible are the loops extending above these bright regions, which represent magnetic fields entrapping luminous plasma. These same bright regions are also the sources of solar flares, manifesting as intense flashes during a phenomenon termed magnetic reconnection, where magnetic fields interact and release energy.

Despite the SDO's unwavering vigil on the Sun, there have been instances when it missed observations. Occasional dark frames in the video result from Earth or the Moon passing between the spacecraft and the Sun, causing an eclipse. Other periods of blackout are due to instrument downtime or data errors. Remarkably, the SDO transmits a staggering 1.4 terabytes of data daily to the ground. Instances where the Sun appears off-center stem from moments when the SDO was calibrating its instruments.

Looking forward, both the SDO and other NASA missions will persist in monitoring the Sun. These ongoing observations will yield further insights into our position within the cosmos and provide crucial information to ensure the safety of our astronauts and space assets.