Seeing the Sun in a Whole New Light

Latest image of the far side of the Sun based on high resolution STEREO data, taken on February 2, 2011 at 23:56 UT when there was still a small gap between the STEREO Ahead and Behind data. This gap will start to close on February 6, 2011, when the spacecraft achieve 180 degree separation, and will completely close over the next several days. Credit: NASA

NASA Spacecrafts Provide Never Before Seen 360° View of Sun

Latest image of the far side of the Sun based on high resolution STEREO data, taken on February 2, 2011 at 23:56 UT when there was still a small gap between the STEREO Ahead and Behind data. This gap will start to close on February 6, 2011, when the spacecraft achieve 180 degree separation, and will completely close over the next several days. Credit: NASA Web Press Release, http://www.nasa.gov/stereo

On Super Bowl Sunday NASA’s STEREO spacecrafts captured something no one has ever seen before, a view of the entire sun.

This first ever 360-degree picture of the sun will now allow scientists to better understand our dynamic star and improve predictions about the fierce solar storms that can wreak havoc here on Earth.

On Wednesday, February 9th, from 6:00am-10:00am EST, Dr. Holly Gilbert and I (Alex Young) will be giving interviews with television stations across the USA.

The questions that we will be addressing are:

  • How was STEREO able to capture these images?
  • What can scientists learn by viewing the entire sun, not just one side of it?
  • What do scientists expect to see as the sun becomes more active?
  • What new mission has NASA just launched that provides HD pictures of the Sun and what has it shown us?
  • Where you learn more about NASA’s missions to study the sun?

Some of the stations will make the interviews available online so when available we will post links to the video. The schedule is subject to change but here is the plan as of Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2011). In the meantime test out your Spanish with an interview of Alex by NTN24 Nuestra Tele Noticias.

Here are Holly’s stations:

6:11-6:15       WVIT – Hartford, CT
6:16-6:20       YNN – Albany, NY
6:21-6:25       WKBW – Buffalo, NY
6:41-6:45       WOFL – Orlando, FL
6:46-6:50       WCNC – Charlotte, NC
6:51-6:55       KCCI – Des Moines, IA
7:11-7:15       WHNT – Huntsville, AL
7:16-7:20       KTBC – Austin, TX
7:21-7:25       KOLD – Tucson AZ
7:36-7:40       WTTE – Columbus, OH
7:41-7:45       Central Florida News – Orlando, FL
7:46-7:50       WESH – Orlando, FL
7:51-7:55       WWL – New Orleans, LA

Here are Alex’s stations:

8:01-8:05      WCSH – Portland, ME
8:06-8:10      WTOL – Toledo, OH
8:11-8:15      KABB – San Antonio, TX
8:16-8:20      WTHR – Indianapolis, IN
8:21-8:25      KOLD – Tucson AZ
8:41-8:45      KIVI – Boise, ID
8:46-8:50      KMBC – Kansas City, MO
8:51-8:55      KTVI – St. Louis, MO
9:01-9:10      Discovery Channel Canada (Taped so will air later)
9:31-9:35      Bay News 9 – Tampa Bay, FL
9:36-9:40      WBTV – Charlotte, NC
9:41-9:45      WOFL – Orlando, FL
9:46-9:50      WICZ – Binghamton, NY
9:51-10:00    KUSA – Denver, CO (Taped so will air later)

Stay tuned for the answers to these questions and more along with links to videos of the interviews in our new STEREO Mission Hub.