NASA | Sun's Cosmic Dance: Captivating Solar Dynamics Timelapse 2022 | NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

Captivating Solar Dynamics - Aug. 12 to Dec. 22, 2022 🌞🔭

Embark on a mesmerizing journey into the heart of our closest star with this incredible time-lapse compilation! Chronicling solar activity from August 12 to December 22, 2022, this footage was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Over its nearly 13 years in space, SDO has provided a stunning 4K x 4K resolution view of the Sun, leading to countless discoveries about our cosmic neighbor's intricate workings and its influence on the solar system.

The sun, an eternal cosmic dance partner, is vividly brought to life in this video. SDO's trio of instruments meticulously captures an image of the Sun every 0.75 seconds, revealing a dance of light and energy that has enthralled astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument, part of this dynamic trio, captures images at an astounding 10 different wavelengths of light every 12 seconds. This extraordinary 133-day time-lapse showcases images taken at a wavelength of 17.1 nanometers – an extreme-ultraviolet perspective that unveils the Sun's outermost atmospheric layer: the ethereal corona.

Behold the magic of 133 days condensed into 59 minutes, featuring bright active regions making their way across the Sun's surface as it gracefully rotates. A complete solar rotation occurs approximately every 27 days, adding an enchanting rhythm to this cosmic ballet. As you watch, take note of the mesmerizing loops extending above the Sun's bright regions; these are magnetic fields containing hot, radiant plasma. These same regions are the birthplace of solar flares, those fleeting bursts of light and energy that result from magnetic fields interacting in a process known as magnetic reconnection.

In the midst of its unwavering gaze upon the Sun, SDO has encountered a few moments of pause. Occasional dark frames within the video are caused by Earth or the Moon moving between SDO and the Sun, resulting in an eclipse-like effect. Some blackouts can also be attributed to maintenance or data errors. Transmitting an astonishing 1.4 terabytes of data daily, SDO is a tireless explorer of our stellar companion.

The harmonious music accompanying this visual marvel is a continuous mix from Lars Leonhard's "Geometric Shapes" album, generously provided by the artist.

Credits:

Video Footage: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
Music: "Geometric Shapes" by Lars Leonhard
Produced by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Lead Producer: Scott Wiessinger (PAO)
Lead Visualizer: Tom Bridgman (SVS)
Editor: Scott Wiessinger (PAO)
This video can be freely shared and downloaded at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14263. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14263.

For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit https://nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines.

Thank you for joining us in this mesmerizing exploration of the Sun's dynamic beauty