SDO

Solar Dynamics Observatory

active Mission

What

Science Objectives

Overview

Our Eye on the Sun

Latest

Where is SDO?
concept image of a spacecraft looking at the Sun.

SDO studies how solar activity is created and drives space weather, by monitoring the Sun’s interior, atmosphere, magnetic field, and energy output.

Type

Space Observatory

Launch

Feb. 11, 2010

Target

Sun

Objective

Study how solar activity is created and drives space weather
Learn more about SDO


SDO Mission Status

Some data from NASA’s SDO mission is temporarily unavailable because of flooding in the building that houses the mission's data center at Stanford University. The spacecraft remains healthy and is otherwise operating normally.  

Learn more about this update.

Experience Earth, our solar system, nearby asteroids, the universe, and the spacecraft exploring them with immersive real-time 3D web-based apps for Mac, PC and mobile devices. No download or sign up necessary.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/VTAD

SDO Stories

Explore All SDO Stories
Article
3 min read

Ready, Set, Action! Our Sun is the Star in Dazzling Simulation

News Release
2 min read

NASA Awards Contract Extension for Solar Science Instrument

An image of the Sun shows a bright flash in the bottom right side where a solar flare erupts.
5 min read

How NASA Tracked the Most Intense Solar Storm in Decades

Article7 months ago
An image comparing a solar corona model on the left and an actual image of the solar corona on the right. A white line vertically cuts through the middle of the image.
2 min read

2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Prediction vs. Reality

Image Article
Against a black background, the total solar eclipse. It is a black circle surrounded by white, wispy streams of light that flow away from the black circle in every direction.
5 min read

The April 8 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA

Article8 months ago
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