Double your Pleasure, Double the Sun (August 28, 2009)

Hi-res TIF image (2.0M)

Quicktime Movie: Large (2.4M), Small (1.5M)

Both STEREO spacecraft observed an eruptive prominence in extreme UV light over several hours from their widely separated perspectives (Aug. 24, 2009) and the event appeared quite different to each. The Behind spacecraft (left clip) saw much of the event against the Sun's surface which made it is harder to discern. For the Ahead spacecraft (right clip) this was a much lengthier event with more elaborated rising and turning. It may be seeing more of the prominence than Behind. The comparison helps to illustrate the value of having these two perspectives on the Sun. Prominences are cooler clouds of gas suspended above the Sun by powerful, but unstable magnetic forces. Eruptive prominences, such as this one, erupt and break away.

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.