Slithering Plasma (August 28, 2010)

Hi-res TIF image (758K)

Quicktime Movie: Large ( 11M), Small (1.6M)
MPEG Movie (7.0M)

One has to watch closely as strands of plasma dart and twist near an active region for a day (Aug. 22, 2010). Using STEREO (Ahead) spacecraft images in extreme UV wavelength of light, the small clouds of darker plasma can be seen twisting and turning, controlled by unseen magnetic forces. This is a small-scale display of some of the dynamic forces fighting it out above the Sun's surface.

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.