Solar Flare from a Sharper Sun
Explanation:
Solar active region AR2192
was the largest recorded sunspot group of the last 24 years.
Before rotating off the
Earth-facing side of the Sun at the end of
October, it
produced a whopping
six energetic X-class flares.
Its most intense flare was captured on October 24 in this
stunning view from the orbiting
Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The scene is a
color combination of
images made at three different wavelengths of
extreme ultraviolet light;
193 angstroms shown in blue, 171 angstroms in white, and 304 angstroms
in red.
The emission, from highly ionized Iron and Helium atoms, traces
magnetic field lines looping through the hot
plasma
of the Sun's outer
chromosphere
and corona.
Beneath, the cooler solar photosphere appears dark at extreme ultraviolet
wavelengths.
The exceptionally sharp composite image has been processed
with a new mathematical algorithm
(
NAFE)
that adapts to noise and brightness in extreme ultraviolet
image data to reliably enhance small details.
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.
