One Year of the Sun: Ultra-HD Time-lapse with NASA's SDO

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has been capturing stunning footage of the sun since its launch on Feb. 11, 2010. In this time-lapse sequence, we witness SDO's sixth year in orbit from Jan. 1, 2015, to Jan. 28, 2016. The ultra-high definition video showcases the sun's graceful dance as solar material courses through the corona, with each frame representing 2 hours.

Using its Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, SDO captures an image of the sun every 12 seconds in 10 different wavelengths. The images featured in this video are based on a wavelength of 171 angstroms, which shows solar material at around 600,000 kelvins. This wavelength makes it easy to see the sun's 25-day rotation.

Throughout the video, the sun appears to subtly increase and decrease in size due to the varying distance between SDO and the sun. Despite the spacecraft orbiting Earth at 6,876 mph and Earth orbiting the sun at 67,062 mph, the image remains remarkably stable.

Scientists study these images to gain a better understanding of the sun's complex electromagnetic system, which can ultimately affect technology in space. Additionally, studying our closest star provides insights into other stars in the galaxy. SDO is operated and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.

Courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Wiessinger
Music by Oleg Kalita from Pixabay

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