+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server   + RSS Feeds   + Podcasts   + Opportunities Previous Animation Next Animation Delta Sunspot When a large bundle of magnetic field lines breaks through the Sun's surface, a sunspot can form. Sometimes, a smaller spot will emerge nearby, creating a magnetically complex region where particles are energized and then violently expelled. Supercomputer models show that rearranging magnetic field lines enables this process.    A animation of the magnetic field of a sunspot, where the magnetic field at the Suns surface is colored blue for strong fields pointing into the sun and red for strong fields pointing out of the Sun. The white lines represent magnetic field lines. Duration: 21.0 seconds Available formats:   352x240 (29.97 fps) MPEG-1   2 MB   160x80       PNG           20 KB   80x40         PNG           6 KB   320x238     JPEG         11 KB How to play our movies Animation Number: 551 Completed: 1999-01-21 Animator: Brendan Antiochos (NASA) (Lead) Scientists: Spiro Antiochos (Naval Research Laboratory)   C. Richard DeVore (Naval Research Laboratory)   John Gardner (Naval Research Laboratory) Series: Images of Earth and Space Video: SVS1999-0001 * Keywords: SVS >> Magnetic Fields DLESE >> Space science GCMD >> EARTH SCIENCE >> Sun-earth Interactions >> Solar Activity >> Sunspots     Please give credit for this item to: Naval Research Laboratory *Please note: the SVS does not fulfill requests for copies of the tapes in our library. On some of our animation pages, there is a direct link to a video distribution service from which tapes, handled by the Public Affairs Office (PAO)/Goddard TV, including some of our animations may be ordered. General information on this service can be found here. Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: