The Sun in HD: Latest Photos by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

Solar Dynamics Observatory Sees X-Class Solar Flare

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spotted the X1.1-class solar flare that erupted from the sun at 11:13 p.m. EST on March 4 (0413 GMT March 5).

2012 Venus Transit Seen by Solar Dynamics Observatory

This series of photographs of the 2012 Venus transit was seen by the Solar Dynamics Observatory in space, June 5, 2012.

Sunspot AR 1520 Seen by Solar Dynamics Observatory

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory saw sunspot AR 1520 before the solar flare erupted from it on July 12, 2012.

Solar Dynamics Observatory Better than Ultra-HD

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory takes photos that are so high-resolution that not even the most advanced Ultra-HD TVs have the definition to display them in full resolution.

Flux Ropes on the Sun

This is an image of magnetic loops on the sun, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). It has been processed to highlight the edges of each loop to make the structure more clear. A series of loops such as this is known as a flux rope, and these lie at the heart of eruptions on the sun known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs.) This is the first time scientists were able to discern the timing of a flux rope's formation. (Blended 131 Angstrom and 171 Angstrom images of July 19, 2012 flare and CME.)

Lunar Transit Authority

Tuesday, March 8, 2011: NASA's SDO satellite photographed the moon passing in front of the sun, March 2-4, 2011.

--Tom Chao

Solar Dynamics Observatory Pre-July 4 Fireworks From the Sun

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured this M5.6 class solar flare on July 2, 2012.

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Earth Gets In The Way During SDO's Eclipse Season

SDO Combined Views of the Solar Flare on July 12, 2012

This image combines two sets of observations of the sun at 10:45 AM EDT, July 12, 2012 from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to give an impression of what the sun looked like shortly before it unleashed an X-class flare beginning at 12:11 PM EDT.

SDO's Ultra-high Definition View of 2012 Venus Transit - 304 Angstrom

On June 5-6 2012, SDO is collecting images of one of the rarest predictable solar events: the transit of Venus across the face of the sun. This event happens in pairs eight years apart that are separated from each other by 105 or 121 years. The last transit was in 2004 and the next will not happen until 2117. This image was captured June 5, 2012.