The Sun Comes into Full View
During winter most people feel lucky to see the sun. But even when it’s out and blazing across a crisp landscape we are only seeing the half that is pointed toward Earth. Even with high-powered, Earth-based telescopes we only see half of our star’s story at a given time.
Now for the first time ever, we can finally see the whole sun.
NASA just released the first 360-degree images showing the complete surface of the sun after it was captured by orbiting space telescopes. Thanks to Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory or STEREO satellites A and B which are now on opposite sides of the sun, we get the first ever 360-degree image of the sun, which looks remarkably like a navel orange.
This unprecedented look at the sun will last for about eight years. During that time we will be able to see what’s brewing on the side of the sun that’s not facing Earth.
Until now we’d have to wait 27 days for the sun to expose its other side. This will be useful for scientists studying coronal mass ejections, solar flares and other activity that have big implications here on Earth.
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