Magnetic beauty on the sun

Seen above are magnetic structures on the surface of the sun, imaged by the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope, operated by the Institute for Solar Physics. This photo is one of a series of, er, hot photos of the sun recently posted to the always amazing Big Picture blog. The Sun at The Big Picture (Thanks, Mark Dery!)

[#1 posted by Phikus , October 20, 2008 10:13 AM]

Nice! More here and here.

[#2 posted by moniker42 , October 20, 2008 10:23 AM]

Can't... look...away...

[#3 posted by dapascha , October 20, 2008 10:34 AM]

Lovely! You can watch these pictures move as well: http://www.lmsal.com/Press/spicules2004/

[#4 posted by Johnny Cat , October 20, 2008 10:44 AM]

Oooh, thanks Dapascha. Seriously inducing stuff there.

[#5 posted by David Pescovitz , October 20, 2008 10:50 AM]

Gorgeous! Thanks for these links!

[#6 posted by Cool Products , October 20, 2008 11:23 AM]

Simply amazing.

[#7 posted by Takuan , October 20, 2008 11:28 AM]

doom doom doom
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200810191463.htm

doom doom DOOM

[#8 posted by Tabitha at From Single to Married , October 20, 2008 12:17 PM]

wow- very cool.

[#9 posted by MarlboroTestMonkey7 , October 20, 2008 12:38 PM]

I know it's kind of wrong but I cannot help thinking how do these things sound like, maybe like a million dragons.

Tabitha, this is the total opposite of cool. :)

[#10 posted by mdh , October 20, 2008 12:47 PM]

I know it's kind of wrong but I cannot help thinking how do these things sound like, maybe like a million dragons.

It sounds like burning, and it wants it's precious.

[#11 posted by Takuan , October 20, 2008 1:00 PM]

do you suppose that if we all pay attention and work really, really hard we might be able to make another one when this one breaks or wears out?

[#12 posted by mrsomuch , October 20, 2008 2:31 PM]

what? you mean it's not backed up?

[#13 posted by Dmitry Petrovich , October 20, 2008 3:04 PM]

"The Eye was rimmed with fire... watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window into nothing."

-Tolkien

Oh dear.... back away from the telescope slowly....

[#14 posted by farrellmcgovern , October 20, 2008 4:01 PM]

Great, just what I needed today, a sun-sized Goatse.

ttyl

[#15 posted by anthony , October 20, 2008 4:15 PM]

these are wonderful images from a great site-thanks!
I very much enjoyed the videos.

[#16 posted by mondegreen thoughts , October 20, 2008 6:42 PM]

Agreed, wonderful things.....

[#17 posted by simplewonder , October 20, 2008 7:26 PM]

Wow! The beauty is hypnotic and also somehow terrifying, but that's not the right word. When I think of "god" this don't see a sheep herder in sandals, I see this kinda thing...because i'm a heathen.

I hate to say it, but this also makes me wish I had really, really good weed. there now the world also knows I am a secret hippy.

God Damn It!

[#18 posted by simplewonder , October 20, 2008 7:29 PM]

#9 "I cannot help thinking how do these things sound like, maybe like a million dragons."

best comment, hands down. you win this thread!

[#19 posted by Topicbean , October 21, 2008 10:29 AM]

Amazing amazing picture! Reminds me of lava inside the volcano.

[#20 posted by Topicbean , October 21, 2008 10:32 AM]

It reminds me of the iron and magnet experiment we did in school. Amazing! Love the colors.

[#21 posted by Gary61 , October 21, 2008 1:26 PM]

It's big, and it's round.
And it's hot.
Very hot.
Very freakin' hot.
It burns, and it bubbles, and it will continue to do so.

sigh.

[#22 posted by minTphresh , October 21, 2008 1:38 PM]

for all of your solar-inspired questions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyz7e8iQ6Uo

[#23 posted by eliba , October 21, 2008 3:27 PM]

beautiful images. thanks for sharing!

[#24 posted by Gemini Gypsy , October 21, 2008 7:45 PM]

This is eerily similar to this pic in my flickr set: http://flickr.com/photos/marywit/2897420477/

[#25 posted by michaelkevin , October 22, 2008 12:33 AM]

wow. that's the best site on the internet.