First HD Images of the Sun Fascinate Scientists

On February 11, 2010 NASA launched the Solar Dynamics Observatory to perform a five year mission studying the sun. The first pictures arrived today and have scientists stunned and fascinated at the same time.

The SDO has the capabilities to transmit pictures that are 10 times the quality of our best HD Televisions. In addition to photographing the sun, the SDO will also gather data on the sun’s magnetic field, solar flares and other phenomena associated with the sun.

The sun, our closest star, is more than a way to heat the earth. Everything that takes place on the sun affects our planet. Solar flares can cause power outages and satellite disruptions. Different magnetic discharges can change our climate. Scientists are hoping that this study will provide them enough useful information to determine when these events will take place. With this knowledge they will be able to prevent many of the problems now associated with these events.

The SDO was built at the NASA center in Maryland and is also being managed from there. Scientists have stated that the beginning images already show that the sun is always changing and more active than they initially thought. This mission has the ability to have as much of an impact on space related science as the Hubble telescope.