Posted on 12/29/2014 4:04:56 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Why are the regions above sunspots so hot? Sunspots themselves are a bit cooler than the surrounding solar surface because the magnetic fields that create them reduce convective heating. It is therefore unusual that regions overhead -- even much higher up in the Sun's corona -- can be hundreds of times hotter. To help find the cause, NASA directed the Earth-orbiting Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) satellite to point its very sensitive X-ray telescope at the Sun. Featured above is the Sun in ultraviolet light, shown in a red hue as taken by the orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Superimposed in false-colored green and blue is emission above sunspots detected by NuSTAR in different bands of high-energy X-rays, highlighting regions of extremely high temperature. Clues about the Sun's atmospheric heating mechanisms may not only come from this initial image, but future NuSTAR images aimed at finding hypothesized nanoflares, brief bursts of energy that may drive the unusual heating.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: NuSTAR, SDO, NASA]
Thank you for my new solar powered desktop!
Stunning!
It’s a nice one, and a nice change from terrestrial shots. :’)
It’s a real HOT one, to be sure!
That’s a beautiful picture of the ongoing nuclear reaction at the center of our Solar
System. We’re not going to run out any time soon, and pictures like this really strike
me as proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy looking upon his creations
with wonder in our hearts and happiness in our souls.
Thank you for another great APOD, Mr. Civilizations. :)
And if no one had invented smores before, once they got a look at this they’d have gone for it.
That’s right. And if they never saw the Sun in this “light” it may never have occurred to anyone. That would have been a disaster!
We have averted Armageddon, doubtless.
That would be a LOT of melted marshmallow, headed straight for Earth!!!
I know! I don’t see a down side. ;-)
And the chocolate! Every continent covered with it! Mmmmmm...
Don’t forget the giant Graham Crackers, too!
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