The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) was launched February 11, 2010 which produced a spectacular Sonic Boom Meets Sun Dog. One of the instruments on the SDO is the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA). The AIA is a collection of four telescopes which will photograph the Sun’s surface and atmosphere. The AIA uses a 4096×4096 CCD to capture the images of the Sun. The AIA will take these images across 8 different wavelengths (out of the 10 available wavelengths) every 10 seconds. In other words, that is eight 16.78 million pixels images every 10 seconds. On December 8, 2010, SDO captured some images of the Sun and its solar flares that give the Sun the appearance of a smiley face.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has captured what appears to be a giant smiley face looking back at Earth.
Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

Did you ever feel like you were being watched….by the Sun?! @ Flickr