From the October 2010 issue

See the Sun in high-def

Now that you've read about our star's composition, watch its roiling surface in action from the comfort of your own computer.
By | Published: October 20, 2010 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
December 2010 WE Sun
NASA
SDO watched as an active region in the Sun’s southern hemisphere produced a whole series of looping arcs of plasma in profile.

When NASA launched the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) February 11, 2010, it made possible some of the best-ever solar observations. This 19-second video shows a series of looping arcs of plasma in an active region of the Sun’s southern hemisphere, from September 11 to 13, 2010.