At the Discovery.com website, you can find a short slideshow of some fantastic photos taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite, launched in February 2010.
The SDO's purpose is to take a look at the sun -- actually, to take several looks at the sun -- with its specialized instruments in order to determine some of what goes on there. We may think that it's enough to know the thing is plenty darn hot and that it sends that heat and light to us in the proper amounts for there to be an us to receive it. But more and more studies show that different kinds of radiation and other emissions from the star we call home can affect our weather and other aspects of life in ways that are a lot more varied and a lot more subtle than just "Big ball of fire make hot!"
And as an indicator that even the best preparations can't guarantee perfect performance, check out pic no. 7. As the caption indicates, somehow during the preparation and launch, a tiny speck of fluff found its way inside the camera, where it will remain lodged for the life of the satellite. It's like Murphy's making rabbit ears behind the sun, in every picture that camera takes.
1 comment:
I'm reminded of an old joke, about sending astronauts on a mission to the sun. "Won't you burn up?" "No, it'll be OK. We're going at night."
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