The spot quickly evolved into what's called a delta region, in which the lighter areas around the sunspot, the penumbra, exhibit magnetic fields that point in the opposite direction of those fields in the center, dark area. This is a fairly unstable configuration that scientists know can lead to eruptions of radiation on the sun called solar flares.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 346677, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11211/#media_group_346677", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The bottom two black spots on the sun, known as sunspots, appeared quickly over the course of Feb. 19-20, 2013. These two sunspots are part of the same system and are over six Earths across. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red.
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Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 1024, "height": 768, "pixels": 786432 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 346678, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11211/#media_group_346678", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Wider version of image. The bottom two black spots on the sun, known as sunspots, appeared quickly over the course of Feb. 19-20, 2013. These two sunspots are part of the same system and are over six Earths across. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red.
Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "items": [ { "id": 311917, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467846, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_crop.jpg", "filename": "Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_crop.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Wider version of image. The bottom two black spots on the sun, known as sunspots, appeared quickly over the course of Feb. 19-20, 2013. These two sunspots are part of the same system and are over six Earths across. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 311918, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467847, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_copy_web.jpg", "filename": "Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_copy_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Wider version of image. The bottom two black spots on the sun, known as sunspots, appeared quickly over the course of Feb. 19-20, 2013. These two sunspots are part of the same system and are over six Earths across. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 311916, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467845, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_copy.tif", "filename": "Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_copy.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Wider version of image. The bottom two black spots on the sun, known as sunspots, appeared quickly over the course of Feb. 19-20, 2013. These two sunspots are part of the same system and are over six Earths across. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 346679, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11211/#media_group_346679", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Full Disk image at full SDO resolution. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red.
Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "items": [ { "id": 311921, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467850, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun.jpg", "filename": "Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Full Disk image at full SDO resolution. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 4096, "height": 4096, "pixels": 16777216 } }, { "id": 311920, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467849, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_web.jpg", "filename": "Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Full Disk image at full SDO resolution. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 320, "height": 320, "pixels": 102400 } }, { "id": 311919, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467848, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun.tif", "filename": "Feb_20_continuum-304_Blend_Sun.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Full Disk image at full SDO resolution. This image combines images from two instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots and the Advanced Imaging Assembly (AIA), which took an image in the 304 angstrom wavelength showing the lower atmosphere of the sun, which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 4096, "height": 4096, "pixels": 16777216 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 346680, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11211/#media_group_346680", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Full disk, full resolution image of sun the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots.
Credit: NASA/SDO/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "items": [ { "id": 311922, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467851, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/20130220_143000_4096_HMIIC.jpg", "filename": "20130220_143000_4096_HMIIC.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Full disk, full resolution image of sun the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots.Credit: NASA/SDO/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 4096, "height": 4096, "pixels": 16777216 } }, { "id": 311923, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 467852, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011200/a011211/20130220_143000_4096_HMIIC_web.jpg", "filename": "20130220_143000_4096_HMIIC_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Full disk, full resolution image of sun the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which takes pictures in visible light that show sunspots.Credit: NASA/SDO/HMI/Goddard Space Flight Center ", "width": 320, "height": 320, "pixels": 102400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 346681, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11211/#media_group_346681", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "For More Information", "caption": "", "description": "See [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/fastgrowing-sunspot.html](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/fastgrowing-sunspot.html)", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "NASA Heliophysics" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Animator", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Writer", "people": [ { "name": "Karen Fox", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." } ] } ], "missions": [ "SDO" ], "series": [ "Heliophysics Breaking News" ], "tapes": [ "2013 Heliophysics Breaking News (Produced by: Robert Crippen)" ], "papers": [], "datasets": [ { "name": "", "common_name": "", "platform": "SDO", "sensor": null, "type": "Other", "organizations": [], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/", "date_range": null }, { "name": "Continuum", "common_name": "SDO Continuum", "platform": "SDO", "sensor": "HMI", "type": "Other", "organizations": [], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "", "date_range": null }, { "name": "Magnetogram", "common_name": "SDO Magnetogram", "platform": "SDO", "sensor": "HMI", "type": "Data Compilation", "organizations": [], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "", "date_range": null }, { "name": "304 Filter", "common_name": "AIA 304", "platform": "SDO", "sensor": "AIA", "type": "Other", "organizations": [ "JOINT SCIENCE OPERATIONS CENTER " ], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "http://jsoc.stanford.edu/", "date_range": null }, { "name": "171 Filter", "common_name": "AIA 171", "platform": "SDO", "sensor": "AIA", "type": "Other", "organizations": [ "JOINT SCIENCE OPERATIONS CENTER " ], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "http://jsoc.stanford.edu/", "date_range": null } ], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Sun" ], "keywords": [ "Corona", "Earth Science", "EUV Imaging", "Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging", "Heliophysics", "SDO", "Solar Activity", "Solar Dynamics Observatory", "Solar Ultraviolet", "Space Weather", "Sun-earth Interactions", "Sunspots", "Visible Light Imaging" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 12073, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12073/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Fast-Growing Sunspots", "description": "Scientists observe dynamic magnetic regions on the sun the size of planets. || cxf-1024.jpg (1024x576) [501.8 KB] || cxf-1024_print.jpg (1024x576) [515.3 KB] || cxf-1024_searchweb.png (320x180) [130.0 KB] || cxf-1024_web.png (320x180) [130.0 KB] || cxf-1024_thm.png (80x40) [26.9 KB] || ", "release_date": "2015-12-10T11:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:49:03.754317-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 437002, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012000/a012073/cxf-1024.jpg", "filename": "cxf-1024.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Scientists observe dynamic magnetic regions on the sun the size of planets.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 11473, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11473/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Eyes On The Sun", "description": "Not a day goes by that our sun isn't doing something fascinating. That's why in February 2010, NASA launched the Solar Dynamics Observatory with the sole purpose of spying on our massive star. Instruments aboard the spacecraft track active regions—magnetically complex and intense areas the size of planets—as they travel through the sun's atmosphere. These dynamic regions are sources of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, powerful explosions that can affect spacecraft and disrupt power grids and communications here on Earth. By observing such features, scientists can better predict solar activity. Watch the video to see a time-lapse of two active regions on the sun. || ", "release_date": "2014-04-10T00:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:51:01.150957-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 456324, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011400/a011473/ss-1280.jpg", "filename": "ss-1280.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Explore views of active regions on the sun taken by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }