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360 degree view of the Sun
Two identical spacecraft from the NASA STEREO mission (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory), first launched back in 2006, are now sending back images, that for the first time allow a 360 degree view of the Sun. 

The craft are offset from one another, with one flying ahead of the Earth and the other behind, resulting in them being positioned on opposite sides of the Sun, and are now able to send back images, both back and front of the planet.

This should enable scientists to better predict space weather and the violent eruptions that can emit from the sun's surface - eruptions that can result in damage to satellites and disruption in communication and power systems on Earth.

Take a quick look at the short NASA video below to find out a little more.


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Nasa
Released by NASA this week were some of the first pictures to be taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).

This hefty satellite weighing in at 3 ton was launched in Florida 10 weeks ago as part of a 5 year plan to develop a better scientific understanding of the Sun and its influence on the Earth.

The magnificent images show never before seen detail of extreme close-ups of the surface and material flying out from sunspots, and has also made the first high resolution measurements of solar flares in a broad range of extreme ultraviolet wavelengths.
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Nasa
The imaging assembly contains four telescopes designed to be sensitive at different temperatures which will give scientists more information about how heat is transferred across the sun. Another piece of equipment, called the Helioseismic & Magnetic Imager will look into the interior of the sun to track solar storms from their beginning deep inside to the violent eruptions that take place on the surface.

If you want to see more images then take a look at the film clip below for some impressive shots.
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