Whole Lotta Action Going On (June 5, 2003)
Hi-res TIF image (2.6M)
Movies
Quicktime
|
For scientific observation reasons, the scientists that operate SOHO
decided to take an image of the Sun every 12 minutes for a week in
the EIT 304 Ångstroms wavelength and the results are quite
breath-taking. A spectral line of singly-ionized helium at 304
Ångstroms shows the state of the solar plasma at roughly 60,000 C.
Active Region 365 (moving across the lower right part of the Sun)
shot off a number of flares and associated coronal mass ejections,
and a couple of other regions were active as well. Even more visually interesting was the profile of Active Region 375 as it rotates into view during the last two days of this observation. We zoomed in on that region and slowed the pace of the movie to reveal the spitting and sputtering and looping action as its magnetic field forces struggle for control. Some consider this sequence to be the best profile view of an active region SOHO has ever witnessed over its seven years of observations. Enjoy the show!
SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display. If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov. |
