The Sun's Heated Invisible Outer Layers (FeXII at 19.5 nm)

The Sun Now July 25, 2008 13:48	Compare to Active Sun
Image Credit: Courtesy of SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.
What layer does the light come from?
About the images: A view of the 1 million degree Celsius gases in the Sun's outer atmosphere is provided by the SOHO spacecraft. This light is produced by ionized iron atoms that have lost 11 out of 26 electrons during high velocity collisions at these high temperatures.
What to look for: The hot gases trapped over sunspot groups in active regions are clearly visible. Coronal holes over both the southern and northern polar regions are evident.

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