NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash on the right — on July 16, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in gold. Credit: NASA/SDO
On July 16, 2024, at 9:26 A.M. ET, a significant 
Artist’s concept image of the SDO satellite orbiting Earth. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a critical mission focused on understanding the Sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the solar atmosphere in many wavelengths simultaneously. Launched in February 2010, SDO is part of NASA’s Living With a Star (LWS) program. The observatory is equipped with a suite of instruments that provide observations leading to a deeper understanding of the solar dynamics and their effects on the terrestrial environment. These instruments measure the solar atmosphere’s magnetic field, photograph the solar surface, and detect solar ultraviolet output, which significantly contributes to our knowledge about solar variations that influence Earth.
The SDO helps scientists gain insights into the Sun’s interior structure, magnetic activity, and the dynamic forces that create space weather. With its high-resolution cameras and constant observation, SDO provides unparalleled data with a detail and scope unmatched by prior missions. This continuous monitoring is crucial for improving the ability to forecast space weather events that can affect satellite operations, astronaut safety, and Earth-based technologies and infrastructures.