S Atkinson:

(The Clayborne* that's just my nickname for this, honouring Ann Clayborne from Red Mars)

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson

https://mars.nasa.gov/raw_images/1616349/?site=msl

https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw-images/?order=sol+desc%2Cinstrument_sort+asc%2Csample_type_sort+asc%2C+date_taken+desc&per_page=50&page=7&mission=msl

https://bsky.app/profile/stuartatkinson.bsky.social/post/3mrc5buwmac2d

The penumbra around a sunspot (seen here in the 2007 hinode images) is the lighter, outer region that surrounds the darker central part known as the umbra. It consists of elongated structures called penumbral filaments. The penumbra is where the magnetic field lines are less concentrated and more inclined, allowing for some sunlight to pass through, which makes it appear lighter than the umbra. This area is crucial for understanding the magnetic complexity of sunspots and their impact on solar activity.

.

The penumbra is a fascinating feature of sunspots, which are cooler, darker regions on the Sun’s surface. The penumbra surrounds the central, darkest part of a sunspot, known as the umbra. It’s characterized by a lighter shade and consists of elongated structures called penumbral filaments. These filaments are formed by the Sun’s magnetic field lines, which are less concentrated and more inclined in the penumbra compared to the umbra. This allows some sunlight to pass through, giving the penumbra its distinct appearance.

.

The penumbra plays a crucial role in the dynamics of sunspots. It’s where complex magnetic interactions occur, influencing solar phenomena like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The study of the penumbra helps scientists understand the magnetic complexity of sunspots and their effects on space weather. Observing the penumbra also provides insights into the Sun’s magnetic field structure and its variations over time. Overall, the penumbra is an essential component of sunspots that contributes to our knowledge of solar physics.

• A light bridge in a sunspot is a fascinating phenomenon. It appears as a bright, elongated structure that connects the penumbra (the lighter area surrounding the darker central region of the sunspot) and spans across the umbra (the darkest part of the sunspot). These bridges are typically hotter and less dense than the surrounding areas, which is why they appear brighter.

.

The formation of a light bridge is often associated with the decay or fragmentation of a sunspot. It’s believed that they are created by the intrusion of plasma where the magnetic fields are weaker into the strongly magnetized sunspot. This can lead to dynamic surges in the chromosphere and transition region above the sunspot.
Light bridges are not only visually striking but also provide valuable insights into the complex magnetic activity on the Sun’s surface. They are an important subject of study for solar physicists, as they can help us understand more about solar dynamics and magnetic field interactions.

•• Credit: Hinode/JAXA

.

https://hinode.nao.ac.jp/en/gallery/

https://www.icehap.chiba-u.jp/en/plasma/solar.html

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson

https://bsky.app/profile/stuartatkinson.bsky.social/post/3mrdagesgns2o

https://mars.nasa.gov/raw_images/1617367/?site=msl

Source

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1055829940255707

Alan Dyer

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:vki6blzv2653stqrjaasx4u3/post/3mrb7lckm7s2w

.

The bright galactic centre is at left in the southwest. As I was taking the sky shots, the International Space Station came into view from behind Cephren, and added the light streak. The bright star above right of Cephren is Arcturus. Sagittarius is just setting behind the peaks.

Technical:
This is a blend of separate exposures and panoramas for ground and sky:
- A stitch of 6 segments for the ground, each segment 2 minutes at ISO 1600 with LENR on, untracked,
- A stitch of 6 segments for the sky, each segment 1 minute at ISO 1600 with LENR off, tracked, with no filter, for the sky.
- A stitch of 4 segments for the H-Alpha nebulas, each segment 3 minutes at ISO 3200, also tracked with no LENR, taken with the Maven 20nm red Hydrogen-Alpha filter for the nebulas.

All with the astro-modified Canon Ra and Canon RF15-35mm lens at 24mm and f/2.8 and on the MSM Nomad tracker.