Magnetic Loops Photographed Erupting From the Sun

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Magnetic Loops Photographed Erupting From the Sun
As the arcing loops above an active region began to rotate into a nice profile view, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the dynamic, magnetic struggles taking place below (July 6-8, 2010). Full Story. (Image credit: NASA/Goddard/SDO)

A powerfulNASA spacecraft has caught a cluster of glowing magnetic loops bursting from thesun while watching a particularly active solar hotspot.

The newviews of the sun were recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in theextreme ultraviolet range of the light spectrum over several days, beginningJuly 6. A video still of the arcing magnetic loops was recently released byNASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

The arcingsolar material is blazing-white at the sun's surface, then fades to dull, hot orangenear the apex. Smoky wisps blur the outlines of larger loops, while smaller onesappear to vanish among the bright, crowded others.

The arcs arethe routes taken by solar particles following the whipping loops ever-changing magneticfield lines on the surfaceof the sun. Small solar flares, hidden from SDO's view, also emerged fromthe sun in this area of intense activity. ?

Launched inFebruary, NASA's SolarDynamics Observatory is flying on a planned five-year mission to study thesun in unprecedented detail. The spacecraft is equipped to recordhigh-definition views of active solar regions at a never-before-achievedresolutions.

Zoe Macintosh
Contributing Writer

Zoe Macintosh is a science writer who covered human spaceflight, astronomy and science for Space.com in 2010. She also covered general science for Space.com's sister site Live Science. Zoe studied English literature and physics at Smith College, where she also wrote for the Smith Sophian. Her work has also appeared in the National Association of Science Writers website.