NASA continues to observe the cosmos for interesting sights and new discoveries. The space agency has even launched a team to study unexplained aerial phenomena and regularly digs deeper into the unknown aspects of space.
Once in a while, NASA shares astonishing photos of the universe and one of them is the recent image of the Sun that looks like it is smiling for the camera. The photo left the people divided on what the unusual image really looks like.
Smiling Sun as seen in ultraviolet light.
Say Cheese! What Does the Smiling Sun Resemble?
NASA's official Sun Tram shared in a Twitter post a stunning image of the center of the Solar System flashing a toothless grin to the camera. Astronomer Dr. Brian Keating, a professor in University of California, San Diego, also noted in another post the timing of the photo release and how the smiling Sun bore a striking resemblance to a Halloween jack-o-lantern.
Say cheese! 📸
Today, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory caught the Sun "smiling." Seen in ultraviolet light, these dark patches on the Sun are known as coronal holes and are regions where fast solar wind gushes out into space. pic.twitter.com/hVRXaN7Z31— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) October 26, 2022
The unusual photo of the Sun is captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). They have been monitoring the star since it was launched in 2010 as part of the Living With a Star Program of the space agency. The program aims to study aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society.
The orbiting observatory regularly captures images of the Sun and monitors the activity in its interior, atmosphere, magnetic field, and energy output. But the photo has divided people online, per the Daily Mirror.
The post on Twitter quickly received an outpouring of responses from users who chimed in about what they thought the picture resembled. Some thought the smiling Sun looks adorable, while others are getting a more eerie feel from it.
People have compared it to the iconic Teletubbies sun, which features the smiling face of a baby, or the more striking resemblance to the Stay Putt Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. Other comparisons also included the mini BN biscuits, a lion, a blowfish, an otter, and other cartoon characters.
The Science Behind the Smiling Sun
NASA's description in its caption of the smiling Sun photo explains that the dark patches are called coronal holes. These spots are common occurrences on the solar surface and represent a cooler area because of having less density than the rest of the Sun. More so, these spots have open magnetic fields that allow fast solar winds to escape to space.
According to 23ABC, cooler temperatures are relative when it comes to the Sun. Sometimes temperatures on the solar core could reach up to 27 million degrees Fahrenheit in which energy builds up and pushes outward to emit heat, charged particles, and light. The particle emission could reach about 500 to 800 kilometers per second.
Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that these coronal holes and their associated solar winds cal last up to 27 days. Despite sounding violent, NASA has not reported any major issues or geomagnetic storms connected to the smiling Sun.
RELATED ARTICLE: Astronomers Capture Stunning New Image of Jupiter Revealing 'Jack-O-Lantern' Appearance
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