Sun Via STEREO

NASA's STEREO mission holds the promise of taking three dimensional images of the Sun beginning in April, 2007. In the meantime, it can provide pictures like this:



Sources:
NASA Image of the Day
STEREO

Sun Worship

This rendition of the Sun in Firestorm # 25 reminded me of one of the more wondrous images I have ever seen. Try the large one first, if you aren't in a hurry. The experience is more impressive that way.

Smaller solar image with description.
Large version.

It is impossible to comfortably or safely stare at the Sun with the human eye for more than a moment. Yet now humanity has the technology to capture such pictures and view them for as long as we like. Suddenly ancient Sun worshipers don't seem nearly so foolish. And any Sun god seems worthy of awe. As Firestorm derives power from the Sun, crossing him hardly seems wise either.