Snapshots from the Edge of the Sun

  • Released Thursday, September 1, 2016
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GIF of animated sun with corona and solar wind labels.

GIF of animated sun with corona and solar wind labels.

For the first time, using NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO, scientists have imaged the edge of the sun and described that transition – from which the solar wind blows. Defining the details of this boundary helps us learn more about our solar neighborhood, which is bathed throughout by solar material – a space environment that we must understand to safely explore beyond our planet. A paper on the findings was published in The Astrophysical Journal on Sept. 1, 2016.

Narrated video about discovering the boundary between the corona - the sun's outermost layer - and solar wind - the continuous stream of particles eminating from the sun.

Music credit: Shopping with Momma by Rik Pfenninger

1 minute version of the video without narration.

Music credit: Shopping with Momma by Rik Pfenninger.

30 second version of the video without narration.

Music credit: Shopping with Momma by Rik Pfenninger

GIF showing the before (left) and after (right) video of the solar wind, as seen by NASA's STEREO spacecraft. Scientists used an algorithm to dim the appearance of bright stars and dust in images of the faint solar wind. This innovation enabled them to see the transition from the corona to the solar wind. It also gives us the first video of the solar wind itself in a previously unmapped region.

GIF showing the before (left) and after (right) video of the solar wind, as seen by NASA's STEREO spacecraft. Scientists used an algorithm to dim the appearance of bright stars and dust in images of the faint solar wind. This innovation enabled them to see the transition from the corona to the solar wind. It also gives us the first video of the solar wind itself in a previously unmapped region.

GIF excerpt from processed STEREO data of the solar wind. Data credit: Craig DeForest, SwRI

GIF excerpt from processed STEREO data of the solar wind. Data credit: Craig DeForest, SwRI

GIF of animated sun's magnetic field, corona, and solar wind. Scientists think that the sun's magnetic control over its material becomes weaker the farther out it goes. This creates a break in the material's consistency, marking the transition from the corona to the solar wind.

GIF of animated sun's magnetic field, corona, and solar wind. Scientists think that the sun's magnetic control over its material becomes weaker the farther out it goes. This creates a break in the material's consistency, marking the transition from the corona to the solar wind.

GIF of animated sun's magnetic field, corona, and solar wind. Scientists think that the sun's magnetic control over its material becomes weaker the farther out it goes. This creates a break in the material's consistency, marking the transition from the corona to the solar wind.

GIF of animated sun's magnetic field, corona, and solar wind. Scientists think that the sun's magnetic control over its material becomes weaker the farther out it goes. This creates a break in the material's consistency, marking the transition from the corona to the solar wind.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Thursday, September 1, 2016.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:48 PM EDT.

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