An Active Region of the Sun
Explanation:
The
Sun is a busy place.
This false-color image depicts an active region
near an edge of the
Sun.
Hot
plasma is seen exploding off the
Sun's photosphere and traveling along loops
defined by the
Sun's magnetic field.
The red regions are particularly hot,
indicating that some magnetic field loops
carry hotter gas than others.
These active loops were so large that the
Earth could easily fit under one. The
TRACE satellite was launched in
April with plans to continue high-resolution imaging as the
Sun passes
Solar Maximum in the next few years.
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.
