133 Days of Solar Activity in Extreme Ultraviolet Light | NASA Video | Sunlight Studies

A 133-Day Time Lapse of Solar Activity

This video shows 133 days of solar activity in extreme ultraviolet light, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The Sun appears golden yellow, with splotchy and wispy features. Some areas are very bright, while others are almost black. The Sun rotates steadily, with one full rotation taking 12 minutes.

The bright regions are active regions, which are caused by the Sun's magnetic field. These regions are constantly changing, and they can produce solar flares, which are powerful bursts of energy that can affect our planet.

The wispy features are magnetic loops, which are also caused by the Sun's magnetic field. These loops can reach up to hundreds of thousands of miles into space.

The two white-outlined squares on the right side of the frame show enlargements of interesting regions of the Sun.

This video is a fascinating look at the Sun's activity, and it can help us to better understand our closest star.