NASA's SDO Transmits Stunning Images Of The Sun

If you liked the images of Iceland's erupting volcano, you are going to love these fiery photos of the sun, transmitted recently by NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO), which was launched in February 2010.

Powered by 21ft. solar panels, the SDO is equipped with three instruments that not only take ultra-high resolution pictures of the sun, but also, gather other important data like measuring solar pressure waves, produced on the Sun's surface.

Oribiting 22,000 above the Earth, the 7.2ft. by 14.8ft. spacecraft is equipped with NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) most advanced technology, and is on a five-year mission to 'examine the sun's magnetic field and also provide a better understanding of the role the sun plays in Earth's atmospheric chemistry and climate.'

While scientists know that solar activity plays an important role in our climate and weather patterns, they don't fully understand how it happens, and are therefore hoping that information from the SDO will help them get better insight. It will also allow them to observe how solar flames affect our communication satellites and power supplies.

While we may not be able to do much to prevent the climate change or damage to our communication equipment, the information will allow us to better prepare for consequences, like maybe switching off our most important satellites, so that we don't lose them completely.

The mission may or may not be successful but one thing is guaranteed - For the next five years we will get some amazing pictures of the sun, that the folks at NASA proclaim to be 10 times better than high-definition television! To read more about the Solar Dynamics Observatory or see more pictures and videos, check out - sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov.

sources: digitaljournal.com, dailymail.co.uk