JavaScript is required
JPL Logo
Image

Agitated Active Region

Oct. 11, 2016
An active region, just rotating into view on Oct. 4, 2016, gave NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory a perfect view of the tussle of magnetic field lines above it.

An active region just rotating into view gave us a perfect view of the tussle of magnetic field lines above it (Oct. 10-11, 2016). The particles spiraling along the magnetic field lines become visible in extreme ultraviolet light, helping us to see the struggle going on. There were no eruptions during this period, although active regions are usually the source for solar storms. The video clip covers just one day's worth of activity.

Movies
PIA21109_304profile_Oct_best.mp4
PIA21109_304profile_Oct_sm.mp4

SDO is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Its Atmosphere Imaging Assembly was built by the Lockheed Martin Solar Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL), Palo Alto, California.

Keep Exploring