The sun stars in a new IMAX film showing at the National Air and Space Museum.
Each year, powerful solar eruptions—sending billions of tons of matter traveling at a million miles an hour—blast off the sun and into the solar system. These eruptions, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), can cause disruptions on Earth by affecting satellite communications and power grids, and can endanger astronauts in space. In order to better understand these solar eruptions, NASA has launched twin spacecraft—the STEREO mission—to photograph the sun, in high-definition 3D, and track its activity.
In 3D Sun, a new IMAX movie, the leading NASA scientists from the mission unveil these spectacular images, and take viewers behind the scenes to tell the story of the solar mission, and why it is of crucial importance to all of us. 3D Sun is currently playing at the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater at the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Video: Melrae Pictures (2:55)