NASA Sun poster (PDF)

Use the link below to download a NASA/SDO poster showing different wavelengths and temperatures of the Sun in all its splendour.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a program run by NASA designed to help us understand the Sun’s influence on Earth and Near-Earth space. They do this by studying the solar atmosphere in many wavelengths simultaneously.

This poster is a composition of several images taken at almost the same time in December 2011. Each image shows the layers of the Sun as various wavelengths and temperatures.

From left to right, you can see the first image of the 6,000 degrees C. photosphere that shows the various sunspots on the ‘surface’ of the Sun.

Then at about 1 million degrees C. we transition into the region between the chromosphere and the corona where in extreme UV light, the active regions appear lighter on the image.

Next is a composite of three different wavelengths adding a bit more colour to the image, showing temperatures of up to 2 million degrees C.

The last section has an overlay of a science-based estimation of the complex magnetic field lines.

Who says the Sun is boring?

• NASA Sun poster (PDF 0.4MB)