March 10, 2008

APL-developed STEREO animations sizzle on the big screen in “3D Sun,” a digital 3-D film opening at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 2008. Mission scientists unveil STEREO’s 3-D images of the sun to help us understand why this fiery ball is so important to us. Moviegoers get a close-up view of auroras over the artic circle and take a ride on a solar blast from the sun’s surface to Earth. The 20-minute film plays at the museum through at least late May.

• Information and show times
• Film’s Web site

April 23, 2007
During a press conference on April 23, NASA unveiled new 3-D images of the sun acquired by the twin APL-built  and -operated STEREO spacecraft. For the first time, scientists will be able to track structures in the sun's atmosphere in three dimensions. The new view will improve space weather forecasting and greatly aid scientist's ability to understand solar physics. View more information.

The Delta II launch vehicle carrying the STEREO spacecraft hurtles through the smoke and steam after liftoff from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Liftoff was at 8:52 p.m. EDT.

STEREO (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) is a two-year mission using two nearly identical observatories, one ahead of Earth in its orbit and the other trailing behind. The duo will provide 3-D measurements of the sun and its flow of energy, enabling scientists to study the nature of coronal mass ejections and why they happen.