Watch Decades of Solar Activity in 47 Minutes
Have you gotten to the point where you’ve already watched all of Netflix? Are you craving the sun now when the days are the shortest of the year? Have you always wanted to look at the sun, but have you been told that it is bad for your eyes? Well, now you have the chance to take a closer look at the sun and see what it has been since 1998 thanks to a new time-lapse video . Here’s how to look at it.
See footage of 22-year-old sunlight in less than an hour
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of NASA / ESA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). SOHO was originally sent out for two years to observe the Sun’s atmosphere and how its winds interact with the rest of the solar system. It was equipped with instruments and a camera. Now scientists have captured images of the Sun over 22 years and combined them into a 47-minute time-lapse video. According to New Atlas , “the footage shows a constant stream of particles emanating from our Sun and permeating the entire solar system, along with powerful CME events and smaller flares.”
So what’s next for SOHO? According to the new atlas :
It is currently believed that SOHO will end its watch in 2025, when a suite of newer, more capable solar observing spacecraft will enter space and begin their scientific missions. Until the day comes when the decommissioning order is sent, the spacecraft will continue to operate, both independently and with other satellites facing the Sun, to unravel the secrets of our star.
So sit back, relax and enjoy over two decades of sunshine – perfect on those dark winter nights (and days).