YT: Seeing the whole sun front and back simultaneously will enable significant advances in space weather forecasting for Earth, and improve planning for future robotic or crewed spacecraft missions throughout the solar system.
These views are the result of observations by NASA's two Solar TErrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft. The duo are on diametrically opposite sides of the sun, 180 degrees apart. One is ahead of Earth in its orbit, the other trailing behind.
Launched in October 2006, STEREO traces the flow of energy and matter from the sun to Earth. It also provides unique and revolutionary views of the sun-Earth system. The mission observed the sun in 3-D for the first time in 2007. In 2009, the twin spacecraft revealed the 3-D structure of coronal mass ejections which are violent eruptions of matter from the sun that can disrupt communications, navigation, satellites and power grids on Earth.
11 Comments
Bradaphrasersays...Oh no! The stereo view... it's - the eye of Sauron!
siftbotThe thumbnail image for this video has been updated - thumbnail added by Hybrid.
westyIts mental to me having man made sun orbiting satalites that are independent from a large gravitational body.
siftbot5 more comments have been lost in the ether at this killed duplicate.
quantumushroomFinally we get to see the dark side of the sun!
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schlubI don't understand why the satellites pass each other (I mean, I understand, physically but..), why didn't they set them up to orbit at the same rate in the same direction so that there is always a view of both sides of the sun (since they'd always be separated by 180 degrees)?
DonanFearsays...Too expensive.
They would need to carry a lot of fuel to slow down when they reach their destinations and they would need to use way bigger rockets to get all that extra weight to leave Earth orbit.
At least while they're behind the sun they can check if there's another Earth back there!
>> ^schlub:
I don't understand why the satellites pass each other (I mean, I understand, physically but..), why didn't they set them up to orbit at the same rate in the same direction so that there is always a view of both sides of the sun (since they'd always be separated by 180 degrees)?
OrnthoronCoronal Mass Ejections are pretty violent affairs. Those streaks you see on that last SOHO-clip are all solar wind particles hitting the detector.
messengerI'd guess they're going to send up another pair in 2014. That way by the time STEREO A and B are back on our side and lose their view of the back of the far side of the sun in eight years, STEREO C and D will be just entering range.>> ^DonanFear:
Too expensive.
They would need to carry a lot of fuel to slow down when they reach their destinations and they would need to use way bigger rockets to get all that extra weight to leave Earth orbit.
At least while they're behind the sun they can check if there's another Earth back there!
>> ^schlub:
I don't understand why the satellites pass each other (I mean, I understand, physically but..), why didn't they set them up to orbit at the same rate in the same direction so that there is always a view of both sides of the sun (since they'd always be separated by 180 degrees)?
SagemindAnyone else notice this video is date stamped 2003 - I'd say the "Next 8 years" they mentioned (2:52) is up - where is the final data, and is this project still operational?
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