Solar Tsunami (December 14, 2007)

Hi-res TIF image (2.7M)

MPEG Movie: Large (2.8M)
Quicktime Movie: Large (6.8M), Small (1.0M)

One of the STEREO spacecraft (Ahead) caught an enourmous wave as it rippled across the most of the Sun (Dec. 7, 2007). While the visual effect is subtle when observed in at extreme UV wavelengths, (especially in any still image) there is nothing subtle about the roughly 500,000 miles it traverses at a speed of 500-1500 km/s in a just few hours or the amount of energy it carries. This event was likely triggered by a small flare and CME from Active Region 977. Scientists believe this is the most substantial wave of this type observed by STEREO.

SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.

If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.