• Partial disk view of the Sun's chromosphere, which focuses on one prominence rising from the Sun's surface.
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    Visitors to the Public Observatory on July 26, 2012 observed this prominence above the Sun, standing at least five times as tall as the Earth. 

    The Sun is made of hot gas, called plasma, which must flow along magnetic field lines. Magnetic arches above the Sun act like highways for gas, creating prominences of glowing gas like the one seen here.

    The picture was taken at 1:24 p.m. using a hydrogen-alpha telescope, which only allows through one shade of red light.

    Telescope: Lunt 100mm Hydrogen-alpha

    Camera: SKYnyx2-2M

  • Partial disk view of the Sun's chromosphere, which focuses on one prominence rising from the Sun's surface.

Created:

July 26, 2012

Photographer:

Geneviève de Messières

ID#:

WEB12559-2012

Source:

Smithsonian Public Observatory Project

Owner:

Smithsonian Institution

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