Sun and Winter Solstice 1996
Explanation:
Today is the Winter Solstice for 1996. After steadily sinking
in
Northern Hemisphere skies,
the Sun is now at its lowest declination -
marking the first day of Northern Winter
(
but Southern Summer!).
The Earth is actually
closer to the Sun during this season,
a fact not usually appreciated
by those
who dwell on the
planet's Northern half.
Two days ago, the EIT camera onboard the SOHO spacecraft recorded
this image of
the Sun in the light of highly
ionized Iron atoms.
This extreme ultraviolet picture emphasizes magnetic field lines and
active regions in the hot plasma above the solar surface.
For today's Solar images at many wavelengths, check out the
Solar Data Analysis Center's web site.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
