A Great Day For SOHO
Explanation:
The last 10 days have been
great days for SOHO,
the space-based SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory.
Contact was completely lost with this international research
spacecraft over 3 months ago but
recovery teams have reacquired control of SOHO and,
beginning October 5th, have been successfully
switching on its scientific instruments.
This October 13th view of the Sun in the light of
ionized Helium atoms
was recorded by the restored EIT instrument.
It shows bright
active regions and
lofty prominences
above the solar limb.
North is toward the left rather than the top as the spacecraft's
orientation has not yet been fully adjusted.
(For a full Sun / full resolution view, click on the picture!)
With the solar cycle approaching a maximum in the coming years,
excitement continues to build as it becomes very likely that SOHO
will be able to resume its unprecedented exploration of
solar phenomena.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
