What Heats the Chromosphere and Corona to High Temperatures?
Uncover the Sun's scorching secrets – magnetic field, nanoflares, and more. Delve into the mysteries of its super-heated chromosphere and corona.
How Are Astronomers Able to Explore the Layers of the Sun Below the Photosphere?
Astronomers use helioseismology, spectroscopy, magnetic field studies, and space missions to explore the Sun's layers beneath the photosphere.
How Is the Sunspot Cycle Directly Relevant to Us Here on Earth?
The sunspot cycle, occurring every 11 years, influences Earth's weather, communication, and power. Solar flares can disrupt technology. Preparedness is key.
A Pulsar With Planets
Pulsars emit deadly radiation, disintegrating DNA and making them dangerous. Surprisingly, some have planets orbiting them, defying current theories.
How the Antimatter-Hunting Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Works [Infographic]
The following infographic shows how the Antimatter-Hunting Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer works. It was sent to the International Space Station in the STS-134 mission by the Space Shuttle Endeavour on May 16th 2011. The shuttle landed back on Earth on June 1st after a mission successfully completed.
Astronomy Picture of the Week – Solar Eruption
This is a fairly old picture of the Sun since it has been taken on September 14, 1997 by the space-based SOHO observatory. It represents a massive solar eruption. Such a phenomenon occurs when magnetic fields arching from the solar surface twist and trap ionized gas, suspending it in huge looping structures, often expelling it into space. Occasionally that huge amount of solar plasma is ejected in the direction of Earth.
