Up close for three days (November 14, 2008)

Hi-res TIF image (1.2M)

MPEG Movie: Large (5.6M)
Quicktime Movie: Large ( 21M), Small (3.2M)

STEREO (Ahead) watched as this very active region flared and blasted off at least three coronal mass ejections (November 4-6, 2008) as seen in extreme UV light. By zooming in on this hot spot (and without enlarging the actual pixels), we can see details of the magnetic interactions of the two parts of the active region as they tussle with each other. These interactions are best seen in the faint magnetic field lines traced (by particles visible in extreme UV light) between and above them. The storms occurred near the beginning, just past the middle, and near the end. The still shows the first storm, seen as a white flash, probably a solar flare. The rotation of the sun carries the active region around from left to right.

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.