Wednesday, February 9, 2011

STEREO Reveals the Entire Sun



STEREO Reveals the Entire Sun

"Launched in October 2006, STEREO traces the flow of energy and matter from the sun to Earth. It also provides unique and revolutionary views of the sun-Earth system. STEREO has given us the first view of the entire sun on February 6, 2011 and when coupled with SDO, will give us complete views of the sun's entire surface and atmosphere for the next 8 years."

#3 STEREO - Approaching 360 Degrees


added: 03/10/2011
A Solar Prominence Eruption from SDO (2011 March 7)

One of the most spectacular solar sights is an erupting prominence. 
Two weeks ago, NASA's Sun-orbiting Solar Dynamic Observatory spacecraft imaged an impressively large prominence erupting from the surface. 
The dramatic explosion was captured in ultraviolet light in the above time lapse video covering 90 minutes, where a new frame was taken every 24 seconds. 
The scale of the prominence is huge -- the entire Earth would easily fit under the flowing curtain of hot gas. 
A solar prominence is channeled and sometimes held above the Sun's surface by the Sun's magnetic field. A quiescent prominence typically lasts about a month, and may erupt in a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) expelling hot gas into the Solar System. The energy mechanism that creates a solar prominence is still a topic of research. 
As the Sun progresses toward Solar Maximum in the next few years, solar activity like eruptive prominences are expected to become more common. 
apod.nasa.gov

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