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Credit & Copyright: Big Bear Observatory,
Caltech
Explanation:
The Sun's
surface is not smooth. It has thousands of bumps called granules
and usually a few dark depressions called sunspots. Each of the
numerous granules is the size of an Earth
continent, but much shorter lived. A granule
can only be expected to last a few minutes before dissipating
and being replaced by a newly rising granule. In this way a granule
acts much like a rising
bubble in boiling water.
The above black and white,
visible-light picture
is quite unusual because the usual relative darkening visible
near the edges of the Solar disk
have been digitally removed. Visible near the center are two
large sunspots
while the computer enhancement brings out two bright plages
close to the right solar limb.
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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
Publications with words: Sun
See also:
- 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
- APOD: 2023 November 19 Á Space Station, Solar Prominences, Sun
- APOD: 2023 October 25 Á Gone in 60 Seconds: A Green Flash Sunset
- Circular Sun Halo
- APOD: 2023 August 1 Á Monster Solar Prominence