NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has been monitoring the sun in detail since its launch in February 2010. Its primary goal is to understand solar variability and improve our ability to forecast it, a capability that has the potential to avert serious blackouts, satellite damage, and interruptions to GPS and radio communications. As a side benefit, though, the observatory produces some great scientific art--like this lovely pair of solar eclipse images.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory observed the moon partially eclipsing the sun on March 11 at 8:00 a.m. EDT. (Credit: NASA/SDO) The first shows the sun blotted out by the moon. Note the size of the moon, defined by its curved outline, and the crisp edge. That sharpness is what you see when an airless body passes in front of the sun. All you get is the hard shadow of light blocked by a big spherical ball of rock. On this ...
