SUN IN HYDROGEN-ALPHA

8.3 light-minutes

Looking at the Sun in the light of hydrogen atoms, a dramatic view of our home star is captured. Only eruptions from the surface of the Sun and plumes of gas are seen. The darker streaks are these arcs of gas viewed from above. At the bottom centre of the image, darker patches are visible. These are so-called sunspots, depressions in the surface caused by the Sun's complex magnetic field.

Credit: Greg Piepol.