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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Sun in X-rays from NuSTAR
NASA ^ | December 29, 2014 | (see photo credit)

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.

December 29, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; nustar; science; sunspot; sunspots; xrays
[Credit: NuSTAR, SDO, NASA]

1 posted on 12/29/2014 4:04:56 AM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
2015 APoD Calendar
The Big One

2 posted on 12/29/2014 4:06:00 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Thank you for my new solar powered desktop!


3 posted on 12/29/2014 5:12:32 AM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Stunning!


4 posted on 12/29/2014 5:56:02 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: left that other site; Diana in Wisconsin

It’s a nice one, and a nice change from terrestrial shots. :’)


5 posted on 12/29/2014 9:51:03 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

It’s a real HOT one, to be sure!


6 posted on 12/29/2014 9:52:45 AM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: SunkenCiv

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. :)


7 posted on 12/29/2014 10:01:10 AM PST by TheOldLady
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To: TheOldLady

And if no one had invented smores before, once they got a look at this they’d have gone for it.


8 posted on 12/29/2014 10:03:52 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

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.


9 posted on 12/29/2014 10:19:50 AM PST by TheOldLady
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To: TheOldLady

That would be a LOT of melted marshmallow, headed straight for Earth!!!


10 posted on 12/30/2014 10:57:23 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I know! I don’t see a down side. ;-)


11 posted on 12/30/2014 11:02:15 AM PST by TheOldLady
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To: TheOldLady

And the chocolate! Every continent covered with it! Mmmmmm...


12 posted on 12/31/2014 9:51:54 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Don’t forget the giant Graham Crackers, too!


13 posted on 12/31/2014 1:58:33 PM PST by TheOldLady
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To: SunkenCiv
Looking at it does give one the urge to put on some old Ravi Shankar sitar music.............Just saying.
14 posted on 12/31/2014 2:03:25 PM PST by The Cajun (Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, Mark Levin, Mike Lee, Louie Gohmert....Nuff said.)
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