To capture the stunning sun photos from Asti, Italy, Porcellana used a Vixen ED100SF f/9 feq 2300mm telescope, Daystar Quantum 0.5 and ERF 100, Chameleon Mono, Baader TZ-4 solar filter and ...

"These unprecedented pictures of the sun are the closest we have ever obtained," said Holly Gilbert, NASA project scientist. The orbiter flew within 48 million miles of the sun on June 15.

NASA Images Show Southern California Mountains Before and After Historic Winter Storm The photos give a remarkable view of sunspots and plasma on the sun, with patterns resembling honeycomb or flames.

The sunspots in the images are dark and cooler regions on the sun’s surface, known as the photosphere, where strong magnetic fields are found, according to the National Solar Observatory.

The Inouye Solar Telescope captured magnetic, silk-like "stripes" on the solar surface called photospheric striations.

SDO sun images are even recorded in higher definition than the newly released "Ultra-HD TV" machines unveiled at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Showcase earlier this month.

"These unprecedented pictures of the sun are the closest we have ever obtained," said Holly Gilbert, NASA project scientist. The orbiter flew within 48 million miles of the sun on June 15.