AIA 171 Å - Solar Region: Upper Transition Region/Quiet Corona
Emitted by iron-9 (Fe IX) at around 600,000 Kelvin. This wavelength shows the quiet corona and coronal loops, and is typically colorized in gold. Credit: NASA/SDO/Goddard
› View real-time AIA 171

How SDO Sees the Sun

The sun emits light in all colors, but since yellow is the brightest wavelength from the sun, that is the color we see with our naked eye. Specialized instruments can observe light far beyond the ranges visible to the naked eye. Different wavelengths convey information about different components of the sun's surface and atmosphere.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, images 10 different wavelengths, measured in angstroms (Å), with its Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument. SDO’s Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instrument focuses on the movement and magnetic properties of the sun's surface and provides 3 additional images.

› Link to associated news item