Spherical Sun (October 16, 2009)

Hi-res TIF image (1.1M)

Quicktime Movie:
Both: Large (6.7M), Small (3.9M)
MPEG Movie (5.5M)

This still and movie show a spherical map of the Sun as appeared on Oct. 14, 2009, formed from a combination of the latest low resolution or “beacon” images from the STEREO Ahead and Behind spacecraft. The images show the Sun in extreme UV light. The movie starts with the view of the Sun as seen from Earth, with the 0 degree meridian line in the middle. The map then rotates through 360 degrees to show the part of the Sun not visible from Earth. The black wedge shows the part of the Sun not yet visible by either of the STEREO spacecraft. The spacecraft, now separated by 120 degrees, will continue to slowly separate and be able to view the entire Sun for the first time in Jan. 2011.

This new feature is updated everyday and appears on the STEREO site at http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/.

SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.

If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.