A spectacular view of the Sun: exploring coronal holes and solar winds

NASA. LARGE FORMAT. An exceptional view of the Sun. The Earth has passed through a stream of solar wind escaping from this vast coronal hole (seen in the lower central part of the Sun, motionless, on January 14, 2006). Coronal holes appear as a dark area of the Sun when observed in ultraviolet light (as is the case here) and X-rays. As coronal holes are magnetically "open", strong gusts of solar wind can escape from them, carrying solar particles to our magnetosphere and beyond. Solar winds take several days to travel from the Sun to the Earth, and the coronal holes in which they originate are more likely to affect the Earth after having gone more than halfway around the Sun's visible hemisphere. Coronal holes are the source of the high-speed solar winds that sweep across the orbital plane of planets, and therefore have a direct effect on "space weather" near Earth. This is our magnetic connection with the Sun! 2007.
Vintage chromogenic print. Nasa numbering on front. Label on back. 40.6 x 40.6cm with margins.