Image of the Day, Crackling with Solar Flares!

Fast-growing sunspot 1112 is crackling with solar flares. So far, none of the blasts has hurled a substantial CME, or coronal mass ejection, toward Earth. In addition, a vast filament of magnetism is cutting across the sun's southern hemisphere. This filament is so large it spans a distance greater than the separation of Earth and the moon. A bright 'hot spot' just north of the filament's midpoint is UV radiation from sunspot 1112. The proximity is no coincidence; the filament appears to be rooted in the sunspot below. If the sunspot flares, it could cause the entire structure to erupt. Thus far, none of the flares has destabilized the filament.

www.nasa.gov...


[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/74acf1186e0b.jpg[/atsimg]

For full image see here.


With all the fuss of late surrounding the activity of our Sun, NASA have supplied a stunning image of the huge filament that seems to be rooted to the fast growing sunspot 1112. This region of the sun is positively 'Crackling' with solar flares according to observations.
To think my white light filter arrived today and now I wish I had an H-Alpha.
Patience Paz, patience.

reply to post by pazcat


zomg we're all gonna not die?!

I love the SDO, it takes some great images.

reply to post by pazcat


That image is stunning, paz! Thanks for sharing. It's almost terrifying to try and imagine the sheer size of the CME that spot could be capable of producing, though! And in all honesty, I sure hope we never find out.


Cheers,
Strype

It really is a stunning picture, check the external link for the full picture.
I forget how to put the scrollbars on it.
Simple probably.