Compiling 17,000 images captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), via Helioviewer, from October 14-30, 2014, James Tyrwhitt-Drake created a stunning 4K time lapse animation. Watch 16 of our days rotate by in almost eight minutes, or 52.5 minutes per second.
Here’s a closer look at sunspot Active Region 12192 (AR 2192), which starts on the right and rotates left. “A diameter of 111,847 miles, or 14 times the width of the Earth,” it’s the largest sunspot since 1990, two solar cycles ago, and the 33rd largest observed since 1874.
These are videos that really demand a change of pace, slowing us down to observe the rotation, the incredible flare behavior (six X-class and four M-class solar flares from AR 2192 alone), and the flow patterns across the surface.
October 2015 update from NASA: Thanks to data captured by SDO, we now have a spectacular 30 minute, Ultra-HD (4K) video of the sun. Full screen!
In the archives, more solar eye candy from SDO, including year 4 highlights from SDO and Jewel Box Sun, as well as the tech behind watching space weather: Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory reveals the entire Sun.h/t Kottke.
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