Credit & Copyright: VegaStar Carpentier
Explanation:
What stands between you and the Sun?
Apparently, as viewed from Paris last week, one visible thing after another.
First, in the foreground, is the
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, built in the late 1800s and located on the highest
hill in
Paris,
France.
Next, well behind the basilica's towers in the
above image, are thin clouds forward scattering sunlight.
Finally, far in the distance and slightly buried into the
Sun's surface, are
sunspots, the most prominent of which is sunspot region
AR
1512
visible near the disk center.
Since the time that this sunset image was taken, the sunspot region on the far left,
AR 1515, has unleashed a
powerful solar flare.
Although most particles from that flare are expected to miss the Earth,
sky enthusiasts are
on watch for Sun events that might cause
bright auroras in an
invisible thing that stands between you and the Sun: the
Earth's atmosphere.
Slide Set
(ASOW):
Dark Energy by Prof. George Djorgovski
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
|
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Sun - sunspot
Publications with words: Sun - sunspot
See also:
- APOD: 2024 May 28 Á Solar X Flare as Famous Active Region Returns
- APOD: 2024 May 26 Á A Solar Filament Erupts
- APOD: 2024 May 13 Á AR 3664 on a Setting Sun
- APOD: 2024 May 11 Á AR 3664: Giant Sunspot Group
- APOD: 2024 February 19 Á Looking Sideways from the Parker Solar Probe
- Circling the Sun
- APOD: 2023 December 11 Á Solar Minimum versus Solar Maximum