Posted on 09/18/2011 9:24:57 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Here is one of the sharper views of the Sun ever taken. This stunning image shows remarkable details of a dark sunspot across the image bottom and numerous boiling granules which appear like kernels of corn across the top. Taken in 2002, the picture was made using the Swedish Solar Telescope operating on the Canary Island of La Palma. The high resolution image was achieved using sophisticated adaptive optics, digital image stacking, and other processing techniques to counter the blurring effect of Earth's atmosphere. Currently a sunspot group is crossing the Sun that is so large it can be easily seen by the cautious observer even without magnification.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: SST, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]
I see comet Elenin!
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It’s...full of stars!
serious side however, bitchen pic; it's amazing that ball of energy holds together for so long.
On the really big pic site, it looks like intertwining woven fiber strands, rising up from blackness.
Nice one. Looks like the Sun is being captured in amber.
burns my eyes
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.
;’)
What the- shouldn’t that be a sunflower?!? ;’)
Thanks!
He done went supernova.
Simply AWESOME!!!!!!! Thanks
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.
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!”
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