Extraordinary Images At Boston Museum Of Science

3-D Sun's dramatic footage is provided by NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) satellites. These twin satellites, each the size of a golf cart, were launched into space on October 25, 2006 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a Delta II rocket.

3-D Sun features striking visuals of a world that, for most, can only be imagined, while introducing the emerging science of "heliophysics," or Sun-Earth interactions, to a broad audience. The film also follows NASA scientists as they gather, study, and evaluate data gained from their research.

In addition to obtaining this never-before-seen footage, the STEREO program will — throughout its two year mission — explore the origin, evolution, and interplanetary consequences of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME), which are among the most violent explosions in our solar system. These billion-ton eruptions can be devastating when directed towards Earth, wreaking havoc with communications and power systems, and disrupting satellites.

In December 2006, scientists reported the largest solar radio burst ever observed. As a result of this incident, almost all GPS satellites in its path were damaged or failed outright. Consequently, this event affected air traffic controllers across North America as aircraft had to be re-routed from polar flight paths.

At the same time, CMEs can also produce spectacular light shows in the form of the Aurora Borealis, also known as Northern Lights, which can be seen seasonally in our planet's polar regions. The film illustrates how STEREO contributes to a better understanding of CMEs, and the effect these events have on space, weather, and communications. The film also demonstrates how STEREO's enhanced images can help scientists predict these naturally occurring phenomena and help mitigate damage.

A Melrae Pictures Production, in Association with K2 Communications, 3-D Sun was developed with the support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Science Mission Directorate, Heliophysics Division. -- www.mos.org