Tangled up active region 
This close-up presents an active region in profile as it rotated out of view. We can observe both the bright arching field lines and smaller pieces of darker matter in their midst being pulled back and forth just above the Sun's surface over about 36 hours (July 20-22, 2011). Both of these physical responses were caused by strong, tangled magnetic forces that are constantly evolving and reorganizing within the active region. Other active regions can be seen in the foreground as well. The image and movie were taken in extreme ultraviolet light of ionized iron heated to one million degrees.
Search Tag(s): 171, active regions, loops
Movies
- Close_profile171_best.mov - mov
- Close_profile_small.mov - mov
- Close_profile171_small.mpg - mpeg