The Solar Dynamics Observatory is a NASA satellite that is studying the Sun. It takes regular images of the Sun's atmosphere at various wavelengths, together giving us a picture of what is happening at all the different atmospheric levels. SDO also gathers data on the Sun's ever-changing magnetic fields.
SDO has three sets of scientific instruments:
- Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA)
- EUV Variability Experiment (EVE)
- Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI)
SDO was launched on 11 February 2010 from Cape Canaveral by United Launch Alliance. It is operated by NASA and is expected to remain in service until around 2030.
UniverseMonitor.com uses a lot of imagery from SDO. In particular, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly gives us the beautiful images of the Sun's atmosphere. See the feeds below for some examples.
External Links
- sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov Official home page
