A Time-lapse View of the Sun

Remember how your parents told you that you should never look directly at the sun? The Internet lets you defy them once again.

This video combines over 17,000 images of the sun shot at 4K (read: very high) resolution by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, captured just a few weeks ago, between 14 Oct and 30 Oct. It’s best viewed full-screen.

If you have your headphones on you’ll hear an indistinct, machine-like humming soundtrack, which I’m assuming was just added for maximum sci-fi effect. They should include it on the DVD extras for “Interstellar.” However, that minor absurdity doesn’t detract from the fact that the animation is completely mesmerizing.

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