Solar prominences as seen in Ca II H

Hinode Broadband Filter Imager

Prominence at the solar limb observed on November 9, 2006 with the Broadband Filter Imager (BFI) aboard the Hinode satellite. The measurements were performed in the Ca II H spectral line, to sample the chromosphere. The solar disk is overexposed to reveal the weak prominence signals.

Prominences are chromospheric structures made of relatively cool and dense gas embedded in the hot solar corona. They evolve very slowly and are the place where several types of instabilities can occur. We still do not know how promimences are suspended in the solar corona, but their magnetic field is believed to play an important role.

This movie illustrates the evolution of a prominence above an active region near the limb. The prominence threads show motions in the horizontal direction and oscillations in the vertical direction. In addition to the prominence, one can see solar spicules (the short, nearly vertical fibrils at the limb) and some instances of coronal rain along high altitude coronal loops.

To download the movie, click HERE

 

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Movie credit: Joten Okamoto (NAOJ/JAXA)

Text credit:  Luis Bellot Rubio (IAA-CSIC)

Observations: Hinode (ISAS/JAXA, NAOJ, NASA, STFC, ESA)

Source: Joten Okamoto's Solar Gallery

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