NASA's Illuminate Series (2025)

A Kaleidoscope SunNASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has been watching the Sun for 15 years — and this spacecraft sees much more than meets the eye! SDO’s 10 imaging channels capture visible, ultraviolet, and extreme ultraviolet light, helping scientists study solar material at a range of different temperatures. Together, they reveal a prismatic picture of our ever-changing star. Video Credit: NASA/Lacey YoungMusic Credit: “Awakening” by Nicholas Smith [PRS] via Universal Production MusicFind the source imagery here.

Why Are Auroras Colorful?Ever wonder why auroras look so colorful? When energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, they release tiny specks of light that we see as auroras. Watch this short video to learn more. Video Credit: NASA/Beth AnthonyMusic credit: “Clair De Lune Lofi” by Claude Debussy [DP], Sol Terrae [PRS] via Universal Production MusicAurora imagery provided by: Neil Zeller Photography, used with permissionAdditional graphics: vecteezy.com

An EPIC eclipse viewAn EPIC eclipse view, indeed!NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera, or EPIC, captured this footage of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. From its vantage point on the DSCOVR satellite roughly 1 million miles away from Earth, EPIC reveals the impressive scale of the Moon’s shadow: It stretched 115 miles across and raced across the U.S. at over 2,000 miles an hour.Video Credit: NASA/Joy NgMusic Credit: "Leaves and Light" by Evan William Conway [ASCAP] via Universal Production MusicFind the source imagery here.

Weathering an Invisible StormIn May 2024, the Sun launched multiple, powerful eruptions toward Earth, causing the largest geomagnetic storm in over 20 years. The solar storm was so intense, it knocked out many GPS and communication systems and even sparked auroras as far south as Mexico. This scientific visualization shows how the storm affected Earth’s magnetosphere in real time. Video Credit: NASA/Beth AnthonyMusic Credit: “Work to Be Done” by Ross Stephen Gilmartin [PRS] via Universal Production MusicSound Effects: pixabay.comFind the source imagery here.

CODEX Begins Decoding the Solar WindNASA’s Coronal Diagnostic Experiment, or CODEX, has just delivered its first images — and they’re stunning! Mounted on the exterior of the International Space Station, CODEX is a solar coronagraph designed to block out bright light from the Sun to reveal our star’s outer atmosphere, or corona.This mission gives scientists an unprecedented look at solar dynamics right from low Earth orbit. Watch the video to see these amazing images and find out what makes CODEX so unique!Video Credit: NASA/Beth AnthonyMusic Credit: “Aglow and Just So – Instrumental” by Jay Price [PRS] via Universal Production MusicSound Effects: pixabay.comAdditional Graphics: vecteezy.com