PIA21638: Active Regions' Magnetic Connection
 Target Name:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  SDO
 Instrument:  Atmosphere Imaging Assembly
 Product Size:  1500 x 1500 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  SDO
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA21638.tif (4.356 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA21638.jpg (148.6 kB)

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Original Caption Released with Image:

Several bright bands of plasma connect from one active region to another, even though they are tens of thousands of miles away from each other (May 17-18, 2017). Active regions are, by their nature, strong magnetic areas with north and south poles. The plasma consists of charged particles that stream along the magnetic field lines between these two regions. These connecting lines are clearly visible in this wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. Other loops and strands of bright plasma can be seen rising up and out of smaller active regions as well. The video covers about one day's worth of activity.

Movies
PIA21638_Active_Regions_linkage_big.mp4
PIA21638_Active_Regions_linkage_sm.mp4

SDO is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Its Atmosphere Imaging Assembly was built by the Lockheed Martin Solar Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL), Palo Alto, California.

Image Credit:
NASA/GSFC/Solar Dynamics Observatory

Image Addition Date:
2017-05-22