Posted on 11/21/2001 7:13:08 AM PST by blam
Mystery gas keeps heading for Sun
A space probe has spotted mysterious clouds of gas falling towards the surface of the Sun.
The gas battles forward despite facing a solar wind which reaches speeds of 74 miles per second.
Astronomers believe the clouds are pulled towards the Sun by changes in its magnetic field.
The inflows can start at altitudes of up to 1.7 million miles from the surface and the latest pictures have surprised scientists.
Bernhard Fleck, the European Space Agency's project scientist for the Soho probe mission, says: "I was stunned when I saw the first movies showing these inflows.
"Before this discovery by Soho no one had any idea that gas could travel the wrong way, and be pushed back towards the Sun."
The images were processed by Neil Sheeley and Yi-Ming Wang at the US naval research laboratory.
If they are right, and the pictures show collapsing magnetic loops, pulling material against the solar wind, they will confirm that the Sun recycles the magnetic field in its atmosphere.
Story filed: 11:00 Wednesday 21st November 2001
But they should go at night.
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