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Astronomy Picture of the Day - New Sharpest Image of the Sun Uncovers Instability
NASA ^ | 6 Aug, 2026 | Image Credit: NSF, NSO, AURA, MPS, Inouye Tel.

Posted on 08/06/2026 12:18:31 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: What does the new sharpest image of our Sun show? Instability. To be clear, a certain kind of interactive process called the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). This instability can create waves and swirls when two streams flow past each other -- in this case variable streams of solar magnetic plasma. Long hypothesized to occur on the Sun's surface, KHI streaks and swirls were confirmed in just-released dramatic high-resolution images taken recently by the Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii, USA. The featured false-yellow image, actually taken in deep blue, is the highest resolution image yet of the Sun in visible light. It spans about the radius of the Earth, but its finest details are city sized. Visible are several smooth tops of changing solar granules, while the edges of the flower-like structures have been found to harbor multiple KHI swirls. Future research may investigate how the KHI helps move energy and magnetic fields, and may even heat the surrounding solar corona.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Society
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 08/06/2026 12:18:31 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 08/06/2026 12:18:50 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

πŸͺ 🌟 🌌 πŸ”

3 posted on 08/06/2026 12:19:30 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

It better not.


4 posted on 08/06/2026 12:20:05 PM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Sirius Lee

Kelvin Helmholtz? I know the guy!


5 posted on 08/06/2026 12:21:56 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: MtnClimber

Global warming is doing that to the sun.


6 posted on 08/06/2026 12:27:23 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: SkyDancer

I believe that GOD has the answer.


7 posted on 08/06/2026 12:32:58 PM PDT by Mark (DONATE ONCE every 3 months-is that a big deal?)
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To: SkyDancer; MtnClimber

” It spans about the radius of the Earth, but its finest details are city sized.”

Imagine that almost the entire earth could practically fit inside that.................


8 posted on 08/06/2026 12:36:10 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: MtnClimber

Unstable. So, where exactly is the sun, on the hot/crazy matrix?


9 posted on 08/06/2026 12:36:36 PM PDT by Buttons12 ( )
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To: MtnClimber

10 posted on 08/06/2026 12:39:28 PM PDT by fidelis (Ecce Crucem Domini! Fugite partes adversae! Vicit Leo de tribu Juda, Radix David! Alleluia!)
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To: MtnClimber

That is amazing photography, and the details are mind-boggling.


11 posted on 08/06/2026 12:40:43 PM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: MtnClimber

So, one who studies this special area of science would be called a Sun-ologist, apparently.
Unless they choose instead, to use Greek or Latin names for the Sun.


12 posted on 08/06/2026 12:45:34 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

Kelvin Helmholtz is a racist, colonial, societal construct!


13 posted on 08/06/2026 12:53:19 PM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)
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To: lee martell

Sol Man ! Hat tip to Sam and Dave


14 posted on 08/06/2026 12:54:47 PM PDT by onona
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To: MtnClimber

That would make an awesome jigsaw puzzle.


15 posted on 08/06/2026 1:05:38 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: lee martell

My guess would be heliologist.


16 posted on 08/06/2026 1:12:05 PM PDT by omni-scientist
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To: omni-scientist

That’s Greek to me!


17 posted on 08/06/2026 1:14:12 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: Red Badger

Scary, huh?


18 posted on 08/06/2026 1:44:22 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: MtnClimber

I’ve seen that leaf motif on a tablecloth before.


19 posted on 08/06/2026 1:49:25 PM PDT by TigersEye (The Democrat Party - like the love child of La Cosa Nostra and Al Qaeda )
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To: MtnClimber
So the sun looks like a cheesy potato casserole?
20 posted on 08/06/2026 2:17:47 PM PDT by Bullish (My tagline ran off with another man, but it's okay... I wasn't married to it.)
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