13.2 Solar Features
187
Fig. 13.4 Image of solar plage. (Image credit NASA/SDO)
changing rapidly in comparison to other solar features. The dark edges are the cooler
gas descending. Figure 13.3 illustrates a typical granulated solar surface.
13.2.4 Plage
Plages are bright extended beach-like features (hence the name) located above and
around sunspots. They are very bright in hydrogen-alpha, which leads to the observation that although in white light sunspots darken the Sun, in hydrogen-alpha, the
presence of plages results in brightening. Figure 13.4 shows a plage sitting over, and
obscuring, a sunspot pair.
13.2.5 Filament
13.2.6 Prominences, Filaments, and Flares
Given that the surface of the Sun is a plasma, it is not surprising that there is an
interaction between the magnetic field lines extending from the sunspots and the hot
187
Fig. 13.4 Image of solar plage. (Image credit NASA/SDO)
changing rapidly in comparison to other solar features. The dark edges are the cooler
gas descending. Figure 13.3 illustrates a typical granulated solar surface.
13.2.4 Plage
Plages are bright extended beach-like features (hence the name) located above and
around sunspots. They are very bright in hydrogen-alpha, which leads to the observation that although in white light sunspots darken the Sun, in hydrogen-alpha, the
presence of plages results in brightening. Figure 13.4 shows a plage sitting over, and
obscuring, a sunspot pair.
13.2.5 Filament
13.2.6 Prominences, Filaments, and Flares
Given that the surface of the Sun is a plasma, it is not surprising that there is an
interaction between the magnetic field lines extending from the sunspots and the hot