Flare Region on the Sun - Liquid? (APOD 06 Nov 2007)

[patricks750]

I have two questions regarding the time lapse movie for the APOD on Nov 6.

First, does anyone know how big this thing is? I'm stunned at how fast it forms, especially if it's earth sized.

My second question is what the bright blob is at frame 1:15:02 that appears to be flying away from the sun? Does anyone know if this is hot plasma being ejected and if so how large is this?

I'm a newbie at discussion groups in general so hopefully I"m following protocol.

Thanks for any insight.

Pat

[rigelan]

You can kinda of guess at the size of it based upon the curvature of the sun, it looks like the front picture may be 1/32 of the sun's circumference. The sun is wide, massive. See as the sun's radius is 700000 km, 2 * pi * r = 4.4 million kilometer circumference.

Divide that by 32 = 150,000 km wide picture

The diameter of the earth is 12,000 km. So this picture could be up to 12 earths wide. But my estimated 1/32 of the surface may be too large. I would put the width of the movie at 2-5 earths wide.

[Dale M]

Below center in the "movie" of the flare, can someone explain what looks like liquid flowing over a supporting surface?

[BMAONE23]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap071106.html
There are others who will know the answer to your question. I believe it is hot, high energy plasma running accross the photosphere.

[craterchains]

Note the upper right area of the "fountain", watch the streamers of material coming in, or falling back, after becoming cooler?!

Best viewed from about 01:30 and 02:15.

Thanks to sidekickbobcat for pointing this out to me.