SOLAR CINEMA:

[Jamie]

Astronomers are calling Japan's Hinode spacecraft a "Hubble for the sun."

On Dec. 13, 2006, Hinode caught sunspot 930 in the act of exploding. The eruption produced an X3-class solar flare, a billion-ton coronal mass ejection, and spectacular auroras on Earth. Now, with a high-resolution movie to study, astronomers can see what caused the explosion: Two sunspots of opposite magnetic polarity bumped together. Boom!

http://spaceweather3.com/swpod2007/23mar07/SOT_ca_061213flare_cl_lg.mpg

Courtesy of Spaceweather.com

[themos]

Thanks for that! Simply wonderful.

[Black Shuck]

Jamie,

Thanks - what an incredible sight!! The magnitude of that sort of event is beyond comprehension!! :shock:

Bill£