SDO Instruments

SDO contains a suite of instruments that will provide observations leading to a more complete understanding of the solar dynamics that drive variability in the Earth's environment. This set of instruments will:

1. Measure the extreme ultraviolet spectral irradiance of the Sun at a rapid cadence
2. Measure the Doppler shifts due to oscillation velocities over the entire visible disk
3. Make high-resolution measurements of the longitudinal and vector magnetic field over the entire visible disk
4. Make images of the chromosphere and inner corona at several temperatures at a rapid cadence
5. Make those measurements over a significant portion of a solar cycle to capture the solar variations that may exist in different time periods of a solar cycle

The Science Teams will receive the data from SDO. They will process, analyze, archive, and serve the data.

HMI (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager)

The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager will extend the capabilities of the SOHO/MDI instrument with continual full-disk coverage at higher spatial resolution. PI: Phil Scherrer, PI Institution: Stanford University.

• View Stanford instrument site

AIA (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly)

The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly will image the solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths to link changes in the surface to interior changes. Data will include images of the Sun in 10 wavelengths every 10 seconds. PI: Alan Title, PI Institution: Lockheed Martin Solar Astrophysics Laboratory.

• View Lockheed Martin instrument site

EVE (Extreme Ultraviolet Variablity Experiment)

The Extreme Ultraviolet Variablity Experiment will measure the solar extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance with unprecedented spectral resolution, temporal cadence, and precision. Measures the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral irradiance to understand variations on the timescales which influence Earth's climate and near-Earth space. PI: Tom Woods, PI Institution: University of Colorado.

• View Colorado instrument site

Image Resolution Comparison

The following image illustrates the resolution capabilities of the SDO, STEREO, and SOHO spacecrafts. SDO's AIA instrument (right image) will have 1/2 greater image resolution than STEREO (middle image) and 3/4 greater imaging resolution than SOHO (left image). The image cadience also varies. SDO takes 1 image every .10 of a second. At best STEREO takes 1 image every 3 minutes and SOHO takes 1 image every 12 minutes.