Up close for three days

STEREO (Ahead) watched as this very active region flared and blasted off at least three coronal mass ejections (November 4-6, 2008) as seen in extreme UV light. By zooming in on this hot spot (and without enlarging the actual pixels), we can see details of the magnetic interactions of the two parts of the active region as they tussle with each other. These interactions are best seen in the faint magnetic field lines traced (by particles visible in extreme UV light) between and above them. The storms occurred near the beginning, just past the middle, and near the end. The still shows the first storm, seen as a white flash, probably a solar flare. The rotation of the sun carries the active region around from left to right.

• 3daysAR_best.mov - (21.2 mb)   
• 3daysAR.mov - (3.21 mb)   
• 3daysAR.mpg - (5.62 mb)   
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