A Decade of Sun

In 2020, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) marked a remarkable milestone, having diligently observed the Sun without interruption for an entire decade. Orbiting around Earth, the SDO has collected an astonishing 425 million high-resolution images of the Sun, accumulating an impressive 20 million gigabytes of data over the past ten years. This treasure trove of information has paved the way for numerous groundbreaking discoveries about the Sun's mechanisms and its impact on the solar system.

Equipped with a trio of advanced instruments, the SDO captures a snapshot of the Sun every 0.75 seconds. One of its instruments, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), takes images every 12 seconds across ten distinct wavelengths of light. The captivating ten-year time-lapse compilation being showcased here features photos captured at a wavelength of 17.1 nanometers. This specific wavelength falls within the extreme ultraviolet range, revealing the Sun's outermost atmospheric layer, known as the corona. By compressing a decade of solar activity into a concise 61-minute video, this visual journey illustrates the ebb and flow of the Sun's behavior as part of its 11-year solar cycle. Additionally, it highlights significant occurrences such as planetary transits and solar eruptions.

Though the SDO has diligently maintained its unwavering focus on the Sun, there have been instances when its view was momentarily obstructed. Occasional dark frames in the video occur when the Earth or Moon pass between the spacecraft and the Sun, creating an eclipse-like effect. A more prolonged blackout experienced in 2016 resulted from a temporary issue with the AIA instrument. However, this glitch was resolved successfully within a week. Instances where the Sun appears off-center in the images happened during periods when the SDO was in the process of calibrating its instruments.

Moving forward, both the SDO and other NASA missions will continue their vigilance over the Sun, offering further revelations about our place in the cosmos. This ongoing research is not only instrumental in enhancing our understanding of space but also provides crucial information to ensure the safety of astronauts and space assets. As you watch this captivating time-lapse video, you'll catch glimpses of significant events that have left their mark on the solar stage. Utilize the provided time links to navigate to each event or explore the detailed views they lead to.

6:20 June 7, 2011 — Witness a spectacular display as a massive prominence eruption bursts forth from the lower right side of the Sun.