This image of the Sun was taken on January 12, 2012 at 1pm.  Though there are two sunspots visible and a number of filaments and prominences, the Sun was magnetically quiet today with little flare activity.

Notice a long chain of prominences along the left edge (the eastern limb of the Sun), and a faint prominence just above that which forms a high arch with a broken tip.  A prominence is hot gas that has lifted off the surface of the Sun to follow a magnetic loop.

Telescope: 100mm Hydrogen-alpha telescope.

Camera: Lumenera SKYnyx 2-2M

Created:

January 12, 2012

Photographer:

Geneviève de Messières

ID#:

WEB12256-2012

Source:

Smithsonian Public Observatory Project

Copyright:

Smithsonian Institution

Rights Usage:

Contact Smithsonian Institution

Terms of Use:

Smithsonian Terms of Use

For print or commercial use please see permissions information.