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Credit & Copyright: Ralph Encarnacion
Explanation:
Even a quiet Sun is a busy place.
The above image,
taken in a
single color of light called
Hydrogen Alpha, records a great amount of detail
of the simmering surface of
our parent star.
The gradual darkening towards the Sun's edge, called
limb darkening, is caused by increased absorption of
relatively cool solar gas.
Further over the edge, a
giant prominence is visible,
while a different prominence can be seen in
silhouette as the
dark streak near the image center.
Two active areas of the Sun are marked by bright
plages.
The above amateur photograph of the Sun was
taken just last month through a small telescope
and a standard digital camera.
In contrast, there are times when our Sun
appears
much
more
active.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Sun - astrophotography
Publications with words: Sun - astrophotography
See also:
- APOD: 2024 September 2 Á A Triangular Prominence Hovers Over the Sun
- APOD: 2024 August 18 Á A Solar Prominence Eruption from SDO
- APOD: 2024 August 4 Á Gaia: Here Comes the Sun
- APOD: 2024 July 28 Á Sun Dance
- Prominences and Filaments on the Active Sun
- APOD: 2024 May 28 Á Solar X Flare as Famous Active Region Returns
- APOD: 2024 May 26 Á A Solar Filament Erupts