The Sun Now | Compare to Active Sun |
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Image Credit: Courtesy of the Learmonth Solar Observatory in Australia. | |
| What layer does the light come from? | |
About the images:The red light of hydrogen alpha with a wavelength of 656.3 nm (1 nm = 1 billionth of a meter) is a very prominent feature in the solar light spectrum since hydrogen makes up 75% by weight of the outer layers of the sun. This light shows us layers up to 1700 km above the sun's visible surface and is especially important for imaging the lower chromosphere. The lower chromosphere is the coolest layer in the sun's atmosphere. Many features associated with solar activtiy are especially prominent in this type of image provided by the Learmonth Solar Observatory in Australia. |
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What to look for:The H alpha picture of the sun is very useful in predicting eruptions. The bright regions around sunspots, called plages, and brilliant solar flares are easily seen at this wavelength. Filaments, vivid string-like regions, and sunspots, large blotches on the solar surface, appear dark. Filaments are common sources of eruptions. Filaments on the solar limb appear bright against the blackness of space and are called prominences. |
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