Solar Spectrum: Rise, Set, and Space Weather
Sun Events Timetable
| Sunset/Sunrise | 19:51 | 06:25 | ||||||
| Civil Twighlight | 20:20 | 05:56 | ||||||
| Nautical Twighlight | 20:54 | 05:22 | ||||||
| Astronomical Night | 21:29 | 04:47 |
| Elevation at transit | 63° |
| Transit time | 13:08 |
| Distance to Earth | 1.0048 AU (150,315,940 km) |
Sun
Last update: Mon, 21 April 2025, 01:00
Real-Time Solar Imaging
The data used in these images are provided by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The SDO is a mission of NASA’s Living With a Star (LWS) Program, designed to understand the causes of solar variability and its impacts on Earth. The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instruments onboard SDO deliver high-resolution, real-time images of the sun in multiple wavelengths, which are essential for studying solar phenomena and predicting space weather. We gratefully acknowledge the efforts of the entire SDO team and NASA for making these invaluable data available to the public.
Magnetogram
HMI (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager) magnetogram photos depict the sun's magnetic field strength and direction on its surface. These images, taken by the HMI instrument on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite, reveal the intricate magnetic structures, including sunspots and active regions.
Intensitygram
HMI intensitygram photos display the sun's surface in visible light, highlighting features such as sunspots, granulation, and solar faculae. These images, captured by the HMI instrument aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), provide a detailed view of the sun's photosphere, allowing for the observation of sunspot development and movement.
Solar Magnetism: Coronal Loop Dynamics
These photos capture the sun in the 171 angstrom wavelength, highlighting the solar corona and upper transition region. These images, taken by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), reveal the structure of the sun's outer atmosphere and trace the magnetic field lines extending into space. The 171 Å wavelength is particularly effective at showing the million-degree plasma loops that emerge from the sun's surface.
Active Regions, Flares, and Coronal Holes
AIA 193 Å photos capture the sun in the 193 angstrom wavelength, focusing on both the hot corona and the cooler material of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These images reveal the sun's outer atmosphere and coronal holes, which are regions where the solar wind escapes into space. The 193 Å wavelength is particularly useful for observing the high-temperature plasma that forms in the corona, typically around 1.25 million Kelvin, and during solar flares, it can reach up to 20 million Kelvin.
Solar Passage Through Day
Double-click to unlock the map.
Current Sun position
| Time | 01:03 |
| Latitude | 39.0469 |
| Longitude | -77.4903 |
| Sun elevation | -39° |
| Sun Azimuth | 2° |
Yearly Sunlight Dynamics
Sun Properties
| Date | Mon, 21 April 2025 |
| Twiglight begin | 20:54 |
| Twiglight end | 05:22 |
| Astrosession duration | 8h 28m |
| Elevation at transit | 63° |
| Transit time | 13:08 |
| Distance to Earth | 1.0048 AU (150,315,940 km) |
| Equatorial coordinates at midnight | RA: 01h 56m 47s", Dec: 11° 56' 31s |
| Constellation | Aries |