Iron Sun



Astronomy Picture of the Day: September 29, 2001
The Iron Sun

 This picture was taken on the autumnal equinox and is green because of the UV light by 11x ionized iron at temperatures over 2 million degrees fahrenheit. It was recorded by the EIT camera on the SOHO spacecraft which constantly observes the Sun. In this picture the electrons are stripped by collisions with atoms and electrons which happen at the very high temperatures of the Solar Corona. This picture really intrigues me because I have never seen this type of view of the Sun and it honestly just looks really cool.