Before the Flare: AR1520 and Shimmering Coronal Loops

On Feb. 11, 2010, NASA launched an unprecedented solar observatory into space. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) flew up on an Atlas V rocket, carrying instruments that scientists hoped would revolutionize observations of the sun. If all went according to plan, SDO would provide incredibly high-resolution data of the entire solar disk almost as quickly as once a second. When the science team released its first images in April of 2010, SDO s greatest hits as captured by the Solar Dynamic Observatory from February 2012 to February 2013. Music: Mistake (Davide Rossi Re-Work - Instrumental) courtesy of Moby Gratis.For complete transcript, click here. Blended 131 angstrom and 171 angstrom images of July 19, 2012 flare and CME. Blended images in 304 and 171 angstrom wavelength light of August 31, 2012 prominence eruption and CME. December 31, 2012 prominence in 304 angstrom light. For More InformationSee [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/sdo-year3.html](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/sdo-year3.html)

An X1.4 class flare erupted from the center of the sun, peaking on July 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM EDT. It erupted from Active Region 1520 which rotated into view on July 6. Video of flare using SDO AIA footage in 131(teal), 171(gold) and 335 (blue) angstrom wavelengths. Video and 4k still of flare in 131 angstrom ultraviolet light. Still of flare in 335 angstrom ultraviolet light. This image combines two sets of observations of the sun at 10:45 AM EDT, July 12, 2012 from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to give an impression of what the sun looked like shortly before it unleashed an X-class flare beginning at 12:11 PM EDT. The image incorporates light in the 171 angstrom wavelength, which shows off giant loops of solar material overlying the middle of the sun over Active Region 1520 where the flare originated. The second set of observations is called a magnetogram, which highlights magnetic fields on the sun. Together these kinds of observations can help scientists understand the magnetic properties of the sun that lead to giant explosions like flares. Medium-size crop of AIA 171 and HMI Magnetogram image. HD-size crop of AIA 171 and HMI Magnetogram image. SOHO LASCO C2 view of emerging CME. The white circle shows the position and size of the sun. For More InformationSee [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News071212-X1.4flare.html](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News071212-X1.4flare.html)