NASA | SDO's Spectacular 2012 Venus Transit in Ultra HD

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory: Unveiling the Sun's Secrets in Ultra HD

Embark on a journey of solar exploration with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), a groundbreaking spacecraft launched on February 11, 2010, equipped to study the sun like never before. Over its five-year mission, SDO meticulously examines the sun's atmosphere and magnetic field, shedding light on its vital role in Earth's atmospheric chemistry and climate dynamics.

Revealing images with an astonishing 8 times the resolution of high-definition television, SDO astounds by capturing over a terabyte of data daily. On June 5, 2012, SDO captured the rare spectacle of Venus transiting the sun—a celestial event occurring in paired intervals of eight years, separated by spans of 105 or 121 years. The last transit took place in 2004, with the next not set to occur until 2117.

The mesmerizing videos and images showcased here are meticulously crafted from various wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light, interwoven with segments of the visible spectrum. Each hue tells a story: the red sun represents the 304 angstrom ultraviolet, the golden sun signifies 171 angstrom, the magenta hue embodies 1700 angstrom, and the orange sun is seen through a filtered visible light lens. The 304 and 171 angstrom views offer a glimpse into the sun's atmospheric intricacies, hidden from the naked eye within the visible spectrum.