Sunspot Line-up (June 26, 2009)

Hi-res TIF image (1.9M)

Quicktime Movie: Large (2.1M), Small (1.0M)
MPEG Movie: Large (4.1M).

A group of sunspots have formed themselves into a straight line (June 23, 2009), a kind of alignment rarely seen. We have not even seen many sunspots lately at all, let alone in a fairly straight line. Scientists with SOHO agree that it is unusual for sunspots to be grouped like this. Their magnetic orientation shows that they belong to spots of the new 24th solar cycle.

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.