The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a NASA spacecraft that was sent into space in 2010 to monitor the sun’s activity around the clock. It is part of NASA’s “Living with a Star” mission, which aims to help us better understand the effects of solar activity on Earth, particularly how solar storms can affect the Earth’s magnetic field and technologies.
The SDO uses several instruments to capture detailed images and measurement data of the sun at different wavelengths. For example, it can document the movement of sunspots, solar storms and coronal mass ejections.
On June 17, 2024, the SDO recorded impressive solar activity. This consisted of strong solar radiation that was particularly intense in the X-ray and ultraviolet ranges. Such activity could cause geomagnetic storms, which in turn could have an impact on GPS, radio communications and the power grid on Earth.
