Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2024 June 15
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                 Prominences and Filaments on the Active Sun
               Image Credit & [3]Copyright: Steen Søndergaard

   Explanation: This colorized and sharpened image of the Sun is composed
   of frames recording emission from hydrogen atoms in the solar
   chromosphere on May 15. Approaching the maximum of [4]solar cycle 25, a
   multitude of active regions and twisting, snake-like solar filaments
   are seen to sprawl across the surface of the active Sun. Suspend in the
   active regions' strong magnetic fields, the filaments of plasma lofted
   above the Sun's edge appear as bright solar prominences. The large
   prominences seen near 4 o'clock, and just before 9 o'clock around the
   solar limb are post flare loops from two powerful [5]X-class solar
   flares that both [6]occurred on that day. In fact, the 4 o'clock
   prominence is associated with the [7]monster active region AR 3664 just
   rotating off the Sun's edge.

                 Tomorrow's picture: How to destroy a star.
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [19]Robert Nemiroff ([20]MTU) & [21]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([22]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [23]Specific rights apply.
               [24]NASA Web Privacy, [25]Accessibility Notices
                A service of: [26]ASD at [27]NASA / [28]GSFC,
                         [29]NASA Science Activation
                           & [30]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2406/Halpha_sondergaard.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/sdo/what-will-solar-cycle-25-look-like/
   5. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10109/
   6. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14593
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240515.html
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240614.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  12. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  17. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=240615
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240616.html
  19. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  20. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  21. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  22. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  24. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  25. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  26. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  27. https://www.nasa.gov/
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  29. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  30. http://www.mtu.edu/