Astronomy Picture of the Day

An Erupting Solar Prominence from SOHO


Bild Note: 4.8 (5 Votes)

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zorg.ch
#91515 by @ 08.08.2006 00:00 - nach oben -
An Erupting Solar Prominence from SOHO


Explanation:
Our Sun is still very active.

In the year 2000, our Sun went though
Solar Maximum, the time in its 11-year
cycle
where the most sunspots and explosive activities occur.

Sunspots, the
>Solar Cycle, and
>solar prominences are all caused by the
Sun's changing magnetic field.

Pictured above is a
solar prominence that
erupted in 2002 July, throwing
>electrons and
>ions out into the
Solar System.

The above image was taken in the
>ultraviolet light emitted by a specific type of ionized
helium, a common
element
on the Sun.

Particularly hot areas appear in white,
while relatively cool areas appear in red.

Our >Sun should gradually quiet down until
>Solar Minimum occurs, and the Sun is most quiet.

No one can precisely predict when
>Solar Minimum will occur, although some
signs indicate that it has started already!




Credit & Copyright
zorg.ch
#114226 by @ 17.11.2014 23:27 - nach oben -
flambée
zorg.ch
#114218 by @ 08.10.2014 19:12 - nach oben -
holy sun... iidrücklich!
zorg.ch
#114220 by @ 09.10.2014 19:04 - nach oben -
brötlät jo scho no gad chli ine!