bild

This image released by NASA 15 May 2002, shows a dramatic picture of coronal loop captured by the TRACE (Transition Region and Coronal Explorer) spacecraft. As the Sun's magnetic field rises up through the dense photopshere and chromosphere, it spreads out into the rarified corona. There it can form magnetic arches or loops constraining the coronal plasma like huge magnetic pipes. This false color image was made using the ultraviolet light emitted by hot, electrified gas in the coronal loop. Coronal loops come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most are enormous, capable of spanning several Earth's. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/AFP/NASA/STR)