Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Sharp View of the Sun

NASA ^ | September 18, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: SST, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]

[FourtySeven]

I see comet Elenin!

[SunkenCiv]

And thanks ToxicMich for this link:

• Astronomy Sketch of the Day

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[null and void]

It’s...full of stars!

[Michael Barnes]

Did the Sun just goatse us?

serious side however, bitchen pic; it's amazing that ball of energy holds together for so long.

[rawcatslyentist]

On the really big pic site, it looks like intertwining woven fiber strands, rising up from blackness.

[JoeProBono]

[decimon]

Nice one. Looks like the Sun is being captured in amber.

[Louis Foxwell]

burns my eyes

[Big Giant Head]

[ElectronVolt]

An an interesting fact is that the photons that were used to make this image started in the fusion of hydrogen nuclei a very, very long time ago. No one knows how long, but estimates run from 17,000 years ago to the tens of millions. They aren’t the original photons, but are the product of an enormous number of collisions starting in the solar core.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[SunkenCiv]

What the- shouldn’t that be a sunflower?!? ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

[cripplecreek]

[JoeProBono]

[cripplecreek]

He done went supernova.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Simply AWESOME!!!!!!! Thanks

[cicero2k]

What is the scale of the sunspot in the photo? I assume 10K miles plus.

I have seen sunspots with my naked eye, in Los Angeles of all places. On the beach, sunny morning and just the perfect amount of fog. Of course having 20/15 vision helps.

[left that other site]

Some Obama Administration Scientists approached NASA. They were concerned that the Space program wasn’t achieving anything spectacular to make the pResident look good.

They said to NASA..”Look, America landed on the moon during a Republican Administration, and we want something Spectacular for Ours! We are ordering you to mount an expedition to the Sun!”

“B-B-But,” the NASA Director exclaimed, “The rocket carrying our Astronauts will burn up before even entering the Chromosphere!”

“Well DUH,” said the obama guy, “Just Time the Launch so you arrive there at NIGHT!”