Shifting Prominence (Jun 27, 2008)

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The magnetic forces controlling this solar prominence that rises above the sun's surface could not seem to make up their up their minds about which way they wanted it to go. The STEREO (Ahead) spacecraft caught the confusion in the 304 Angstroms wavelength of ultraviolet light over about a day and a half period (June 16-17, 2008). The material observed is at about 60,000 degrees. Prominences are cooler clouds of gas suspended above the Sun by often competing magnetic forces. Some of the material is pulled one way and some another along arced paths defined by magnetic fields until the material is dissipated.

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.