Uploaded October 2011 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The magnetic field lines of two active regions on the Sun gradually reached across about one-third of the Sun and connected with each other over a little more than one day (Oct. 6-7, 2011). Active regions are magnetically intense areas that emerge from beneath the Sun's surface. The tenuous tendrils of the field lines became visible as the two active regions, not quite in sight of the spacecraft, began to rotate around, giving SDO had a good profile view of the wispy connection process. While long distance connections have been observed before, they are rarely so long reaching or so clearly defined. This observation does help underscore the interconnections of certain features of the Sun.
Credit: NASA SDO
The magnetic field lines of two active regions on the Sun gradually reached across about one-third of the Sun and connected with each other over a little more than one day (Oct. 6-7, 2011). Active regions are magnetically intense areas that emerge from beneath the Sun's surface. The tenuous tendrils of the field lines became visible as the two active regions, not quite in sight of the spacecraft, began to rotate around, giving SDO had a good profile view of the wispy connection process. While long distance connections have been observed before, they are rarely so long reaching or so clearly defined. This observation does help underscore the interconnections of certain features of the Sun.
Credit: NASA SDO
