Image of the solar surface alongside a close-up view of a sunspot from ALMA

This image of the entire Sun was taken in the red visible light emitted by iron atoms in the Sun’s atmosphere. Light at this wavelength originates from the visible solar surface, the photosphere. A cooler, darker sunspot is clearly visible in the disc, and as a visual comparison is shown alongside the image from ALMA at a wavelength of 1.25 millimetres.

The full-disc solar image was taken with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).

Credit:

ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), NASA.

About the Image

Id:eso1703d
Type:Collage
Release date:17 January 2017, 15:00
Related releases:eso1703
Size:3000 x 2340 px

About the Object

Name:Sun, Sun spot
Type:Solar System : Star : Feature : Photosphere : Sunspot
Category:Solar System

Image Formats

Large JPEG
1.3 MB
Screensize JPEG
164.1 KB