August 1, 2026, 08/01/2026
AIA 171 Å: The Golden Atmosphere (Corona)
AIA (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly) is the camera on board the SDO satellite.
171Å (171 Angstroms) defines a microscopic measure of a wavelength of light.
The 171 filter captures Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) from super-heated plasma at 1 million degrees kelvin. It shows massive, glowing magnetic loops walking across the Sun like giant slinkies. Loops can be seen twisting, breaking, or glowing brightly when there’s a solar flare.
The SDO 171 Image is the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the Corona). The Corona (crown) is the flame, a thousands of times hotter, sitting above the Sun like a crown.
