|
|
This image shows Earth next to a sunspot
for size comparison.
Original Windows to the Universe artwork by Randy
Russell using images from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (sunspot
image) and NASA (Earth image). (73K JPEG) |
|
|
These two images show how the number of sunspots varies over the course
of a sunspot cycle. The
image on the left, with many sunspots, was taken near solar max in March
2001. The righthand image, in which no spots are evident, was taken near
solar min in January 2005. Images courtesy SOHO (NASA/ESA). (61K JPEG)
|
|
|
This animation shows a group of sunspots growing as they are carried across
the face of the Sun by the Sun's
rotation. The animation spans a two-week period in January 2005. Images
courtesy SOHO (ESA & NASA). Animation by Windows to the Universe
staff (Randy Russell). (235K QuickTime)
|
|
|
This image shows two views of sunspots.
On the left are two large sunspot groups seen against the entire disk of
the Sun. On the right is a closeup of another sunspot group. Images courtesy
SOHO (NASA & ESA) and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. (75K JPEG)
|
|
|
Sunspots are regions on the Sun where powerful magnetic fields pierce
the Sun's "surface". The magnetic
fields around sunspots are a bit like the field of a horseshoe magnet.
Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy
Russell using an image from NASA's TRACE mission. (45K JPEG) |
|
|
This ultraviolet image of the Sun shows one of the largest solar
flares ever seen. The flare, which erupted in November 2003, is the
bright region along the Sun's right limb. Image courtesy SOHO (NASA &
ESA). (63K JPEG)
|
|
|
This is a full disk H-alpha image of the sun. (From Learmonth, Australia)
(139K GIF) |
|
|
This is a region around a sunspot.
(217K GIF) |
|
|
Coronal loops in the Sun's atmosphere
trace magnetic field
lines above active regions
on the Sun. The glowing plasma
in the loops is extremely hot - 1 million degrees! An ultraviolet
telescope on the TRACE spacecraft took this picture in November 1999.
Image courtesy TRACE/NASA. (52K JPEG)
|
|
|
This is an X-ray image of the sun taken with the Soft X-Ray Telescope
(SXT) on the orbiting Yohkoh satellite. (Courtesy of Lockheed Palo Alto
Research Laboratory)
(101K GIF) |
|
|
A huge solar prominence
that erupted from the limb of the Sun on October 26, 2003 is shown next
to Earth for size comparison.
This extreme ultraviolet
(EUV) image of the Sun was captured by the SOHO
spacecraft. Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy
Russell) using images courtesy SOHO (ESA & NASA). |
|
|
This short video, titled "Dark Days Ahead for the Sun", describes the upcoming solar cycle, which is expected to be more active than normal. (Courtesy of the National Science Foundation) (Requires the free RealPlayer software from RealNetworks.) |
|
|
This is an image of Red Corona. (Courtesy of Sacramento Peak Observatory)
(142K GIF) |
|
|
This movie shows a Coronal Mass Ejection
(CME), one type of "solar storm",
erupting from the Sun in January 2002. Images courtesy SOHO
(NASA & ESA). Animation by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy
Russell). (1M
animated GIF | 317K animated
GIF) |
|
|
This diagram shows the solar wind from the Sun as it reaches Earth's magnetosphere.
You can see the interaction between the solar
wind and Earth's magnetic field. |
|
|
This is a picture of the Earth's magnetic field and the Van Allen Belts.
The Van Allen Belts are two
layers where the atomic
particles are trapped and the magnetosphere is dense. |
|
|
This diagram shows some of the different regions of Earth's magnetosphere.
(42K JPEG) |
|
|
This image is a shows the main features of Earth's plasmasphere:
the plasmapause, the main body of the plasmasphere, the dusk-bulge region,
and the detached plasma regions outside the main body of the plasmasphere.
(77K JPEG) |
|
|
Two high radiation
regions surround Earth - the inner and outer Van Allen radiation
belts. (27K JPEG) |
|
|
This interactive animation lets you explore Earth's magnetic field by
dragging around a compass. (Flash
file) |
|
|
This is an example of the auroral lights when seen as bands. (Courtesy
of Jan Curtis)
(11K JPG) |
|
|
This is a type-A Great Red Aurora. This aurora was caused by a solar magnetic
storm of exceptional intensity (during the days of February 10-11, 1958).
This was about the 13th largest magnetic storm in recorded history. This
photo was taken by Bert Vorchheimer on February 10, 1958, the day before
his daughter's birth. A very special day all around!
(Copyright Bert Vorchheimer) (40K JPG) |
|
|
A view of the southern auroral oval as captured by astronauts on the Shuttle
Discovery. (Courtesy of NASA, Astronaut Overmeyer and Dr. Halliman)
(101K JPG) |
|
|
A global view of the northern auroral oval superimposed on an image of
the Earth's surface. (Courtesy of Dr. L. A. Frank with the VIS instrument
team of the Polar spacecraft and NASA Goddard)
(56K GIF) |
|
|
A view of the northern auroral oval. Image courtesy L. Frank. (72K JPEG) |
|
Earth isn't the only planet with aurora. This image shows Jupiter's auroral oval around its magnetic north pole. This ultraviolet image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 1998. Image courtesy NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and John Clarke (University of Michigan). (45K JPEG)
|
|
|
This image shows Earth next to a sunspot
for size comparison.
Original Windows to the Universe artwork by Randy
Russell using images from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (sunspot
image) and NASA (Earth image). (73K JPEG) |
|
|
These two images show how the number of sunspots varies over the course
of a sunspot cycle. The
image on the left, with many sunspots, was taken near solar max in March
2001. The righthand image, in which no spots are evident, was taken near
solar min in January 2005. Images courtesy SOHO (NASA/ESA). (61K JPEG)
|
|
|
This animation shows a group of sunspots growing as they are carried across
the face of the Sun by the Sun's
rotation. The animation spans a two-week period in January 2005. Images
courtesy SOHO (ESA & NASA). Animation by Windows to the Universe
staff (Randy Russell). (235K QuickTime)
|
|
|
This image shows two views of sunspots.
On the left are two large sunspot groups seen against the entire disk of
the Sun. On the right is a closeup of another sunspot group. Images courtesy
SOHO (NASA & ESA) and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. (75K JPEG)
|
|
|
Sunspots are regions on the Sun where powerful magnetic fields pierce
the Sun's "surface". The magnetic
fields around sunspots are a bit like the field of a horseshoe magnet.
Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy
Russell using an image from NASA's TRACE mission. (45K JPEG) |
|
|
This ultraviolet image of the Sun shows one of the largest solar
flares ever seen. The flare, which erupted in November 2003, is the
bright region along the Sun's right limb. Image courtesy SOHO (NASA &
ESA). (63K JPEG)
|
|
|
This is a full disk H-alpha image of the sun. (From Learmonth, Australia)
(139K GIF) |
|
|
This is a region around a sunspot.
(217K GIF) |
|
|
Coronal loops in the Sun's atmosphere
trace magnetic field
lines above active regions
on the Sun. The glowing plasma
in the loops is extremely hot - 1 million degrees! An ultraviolet
telescope on the TRACE spacecraft took this picture in November 1999.
Image courtesy TRACE/NASA. (52K JPEG)
|
|
|
This is an X-ray image of the sun taken with the Soft X-Ray Telescope
(SXT) on the orbiting Yohkoh satellite. (Courtesy of Lockheed Palo Alto
Research Laboratory)
(101K GIF) |
|
|
A huge solar prominence
that erupted from the limb of the Sun on October 26, 2003 is shown next
to Earth for size comparison.
This extreme ultraviolet
(EUV) image of the Sun was captured by the SOHO
spacecraft. Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy
Russell) using images courtesy SOHO (ESA & NASA). |
|
|
This short movie, titled "Dark Days Ahead for the Sun", describes the upcoming solar cycle, which is expected to be more active than normal. (Courtesy of the National Science Foundation) (Requires the free RealPlayer software from RealNetworks.) |
|
|
This is an image of Red Corona. (Courtesy of Sacramento Peak Observatory)
(142K GIF) |
|
|
This movie shows a Coronal Mass Ejection
(CME), one type of "solar storm",
erupting from the Sun in January 2002. Images courtesy SOHO
(NASA & ESA). Animation by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy
Russell). (1M
animated GIF | 317K animated
GIF) |
|
|
This diagram shows the solar wind from the Sun as it reaches Earth's magnetosphere.
You can see the interaction between the solar
wind and Earth's magnetic field. |
|
|
This is a picture of the Earth's magnetic field and the Van Allen Belts.
The Van Allen Belts are two
layers where the atomic
particles are trapped and the magnetosphere is dense. |
|
|
This diagram shows some of the different regions of Earth's magnetosphere.
(42K JPEG) |
|
|
This image is a shows the main features of Earth's plasmasphere:
the plasmapause, the main body of the plasmasphere, the dusk-bulge region,
and the detached plasma regions outside the main body of the plasmasphere.
(77K JPEG) |
|
|
Two high radiation
regions surround Earth - the inner and outer Van Allen radiation
belts. (27K JPEG) |
|
|
This interactive animation lets you explore Earth's magnetic field by
dragging around a compass. (Flash
file) |
|
|
This is an example of the auroral lights when seen as bands. (Courtesy
of Jan Curtis)
(11K JPG) |
|
|
This is a type-A Great Red Aurora. This aurora was caused by a solar magnetic
storm of exceptional intensity (during the days of February 10-11, 1958).
This was about the 13th largest magnetic storm in recorded history. This
photo was taken by Bert Vorchheimer on February 10, 1958, the day before
his daughter's birth. A very special day all around!
(Copyright Bert Vorchheimer) (40K JPG) |
|
|
A view of the southern auroral oval as captured by astronauts on the Shuttle
Discovery. (Courtesy of NASA, Astronaut Overmeyer and Dr. Halliman)
(101K JPG) |
|
|
A global view of the northern auroral oval superimposed on an image of
the Earth's surface. (Courtesy of Dr. L. A. Frank with the VIS instrument
team of the Polar spacecraft and NASA Goddard)
(56K GIF) |
|
|
A view of the northern auroral oval. Image courtesy L. Frank. (72K JPEG) |
|
Earth isn't the only planet with aurora. This image shows Jupiter's auroral oval around its magnetic north pole. This ultraviolet image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 1998. Image courtesy NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and John Clarke (University of Michigan). (45K JPEG)
|
|
|
This image shows Earth next to a sunspot
for size comparison.
Original Windows to the Universe artwork by Randy
Russell using images from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (sunspot
image) and NASA (Earth image). (73K JPEG) |
|
|
These two images show how the number of sunspots varies over the course
of a sunspot cycle. The
image on the left, with many sunspots, was taken near solar max in March
2001. The righthand image, in which no spots are evident, was taken near
solar min in January 2005. Images courtesy SOHO (NASA/ESA). (61K JPEG)
|
|
|
This animation shows a group of sunspots growing as they are carried across
the face of the Sun by the Sun's
rotation. The animation spans a two-week period in January 2005. Images
courtesy SOHO (ESA & NASA). Animation by Windows to the Universe
staff (Randy Russell). (235K QuickTime)
|
|
|
This image shows two views of sunspots.
On the left are two large sunspot groups seen against the entire disk of
the Sun. On the right is a closeup of another sunspot group. Images courtesy
SOHO (NASA & ESA) and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. (75K JPEG)
|
|
|
Sunspots are regions on the Sun where powerful magnetic fields pierce
the Sun's "surface". The magnetic
fields around sunspots are a bit like the field of a horseshoe magnet.
Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy
Russell using an image from NASA's TRACE mission. (45K JPEG) |
|
|
This ultraviolet image of the Sun shows one of the largest solar
flares ever seen. The flare, which erupted in November 2003, is the
bright region along the Sun's right limb. Image courtesy SOHO (NASA &
ESA). (63K JPEG)
|
|
|
This is a full disk H-alpha image of the sun. (From Learmonth, Australia)
(139K GIF) |
|
|
This is a region around a sunspot.
(217K GIF) |
|
|
Coronal loops in the Sun's atmosphere
trace magnetic field
lines above active regions
on the Sun. The glowing plasma
in the loops is extremely hot - 1 million degrees! An ultraviolet
telescope on the TRACE spacecraft took this picture in November 1999.
Image courtesy TRACE/NASA. (52K JPEG)
|
|
|
This is an X-ray image of the sun taken with the Soft X-Ray Telescope
(SXT) on the orbiting Yohkoh satellite. (Courtesy of Lockheed Palo Alto
Research Laboratory)
(101K GIF) |
|
|
A huge solar prominence
that erupted from the limb of the Sun on October 26, 2003 is shown next
to Earth for size comparison.
This extreme ultraviolet
(EUV) image of the Sun was captured by the SOHO
spacecraft. Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy
Russell) using images courtesy SOHO (ESA & NASA). |
|
|
This short movie, titled "Dark Days Ahead for the Sun", describes the upcoming solar cycle, which is expected to be more active than normal. (Courtesy of the National Science Foundation) (Requires the free RealPlayer software from RealNetworks.) |
|
|
This is an image of Red Corona. (Courtesy of Sacramento Peak Observatory)
(142K GIF) |
|
|
This movie shows a Coronal Mass Ejection
(CME), one type of "solar storm",
erupting from the Sun in January 2002. Images courtesy SOHO
(NASA & ESA). Animation by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy
Russell). (1M
animated GIF | 317K animated
GIF) |
|
|
This diagram shows the solar wind from the Sun as it reaches Earth's magnetosphere.
You can see the interaction between the solar
wind and Earth's magnetic field. |
|
|
This is a picture of the Earth's magnetic field and the Van Allen Belts.
The Van Allen Belts are two
layers where the atomic
particles are trapped and the magnetosphere is dense. |
|
|
This diagram shows some of the different regions of Earth's magnetosphere.
(42K JPEG) |
|
|
This image is a shows the main features of Earth's plasmasphere:
the plasmapause, the main body of the plasmasphere, the dusk-bulge region,
and the detached plasma regions outside the main body of the plasmasphere.
(77K JPEG) |
|
|
Two high radiation
regions surround Earth - the inner and outer Van Allen radiation
belts. (27K JPEG) |
|
|
This interactive animation lets you explore Earth's magnetic field by
dragging around a compass. (Flash
file) |
|
|
This is an example of the auroral lights when seen as bands. (Courtesy
of Jan Curtis)
(11K JPG) |
|
|
This is a type-A Great Red Aurora. This aurora was caused by a solar magnetic
storm of exceptional intensity (during the days of February 10-11, 1958).
This was about the 13th largest magnetic storm in recorded history. This
photo was taken by Bert Vorchheimer on February 10, 1958, the day before
his daughter's birth. A very special day all around!
(Copyright Bert Vorchheimer) (40K JPG) |
|
|
A view of the southern auroral oval as captured by astronauts on the Shuttle
Discovery. (Courtesy of NASA, Astronaut Overmeyer and Dr. Halliman)
(101K JPG) |
|
|
A global view of the northern auroral oval superimposed on an image of
the Earth's surface. (Courtesy of Dr. L. A. Frank with the VIS instrument
team of the Polar spacecraft and NASA Goddard)
(56K GIF) |
|
|
A view of the northern auroral oval. Image courtesy L. Frank. (72K JPEG) |
|
Earth isn't the only planet with aurora. This image shows Jupiter's auroral oval around its magnetic north pole. This ultraviolet image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 1998. Image courtesy NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and John Clarke (University of Michigan). (45K JPEG)
|
_s.gif)
