Space.com announces the top 10 images of the sun taken by the Solar and Helospheric Observatory, based on votes cast by the public.
THE ORBITING OBSERVATORY, known as SOHO, has been monitoring the sun for nearly eight years. It has been near death three times, but so far it’s survived to provide crucial early warnings of impending space weather that could destroy satellites and knock out power grids. Scientists credit SOHO with allowing forecasts that prevent damage and losses that might otherwise occur.
To mark the Dec. 2 anniversary of the mission’s 1995 launch, the SOHO team conducted an online vote for the best shots. Each voter was allowed to pick up to five images, and the top 10 of the 30 on the ballot were ranked in order of popularity. Click on the slide show logo at the top of this story to see high-bandwidth or low-bandwidth versions of the “Top 10” images.
SOHO is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency.
“These images, while not selected for their scientific impact or value, help bring to the public’s attention the variety and stunning visual aspect of solar observation being performed by NASA and others,” said Steele Hill, a media specialist with the SOHO project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “They also present the dynamic nature of the sun, its variability, and its powerful influence on space weather. We hope that they may inspire others to learn more about the sun and explore the field of science in general.”
As you click through the slide show, the percentages indicate how many of the voters picked a particular image while making up to five choices. Thus, the total exceeds 100 percent.
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