SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Visible Light Picture of the Sun

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Scientists with a friggin awesome telescope have taken a picture of a Sun Spot on the Sun with a resolution of 50 miles.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-08/big-bear-solar-observatory-snaps-clearest-ever-pic-solar-flare

This picture is supposed to be the clearest closest picture of the sun ever taken using visible light.

If someone could better explain what a resolution of 50 miles means exactly it would be much appreciated.

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

I don't know why but there is something really unsettling about that picture.

The sun looks pretty creepy.

Posted: Aug 26 2010 10:05 am

Looks more like a closeup of the Eye of Sauron. Yeesh.

Joined: Mar 13 2009 Location: Arlington Posts: 467

Resolution of 50 Miles? what is that like, 1280x960 times 10 to the 1 billionth degree?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I think it means that the width of the image represents 50 miles. If that is true, that is insanely detailed for a picture 93 million miles away.

Posted: Aug 26 2010 11:07 am

I'm getting either a Sauron or a Zalgo vibe...

Posted: Aug 26 2010 03:31 pm

That picture really creeps me out, and I'm not sure why. Probably the same Sauron vibe others are getting.

Posted: Aug 26 2010 03:49 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

I think it means that the width of the image represents 50 miles. If that is true, that is insanely detailed for a picture 93 million miles away.

I think that is basically what it means.

As a space nut, I think this picture is pretty fuckin' rad. I love space images though.

Title: The Self-Titler Joined: Aug 14 2010 Posts: 598

Pretty badass, but it looks like the sun is about to drop a deuce (pinch a loaf, drop the kids at the pool, unleash the Kraken, etc, take your pick)

Posted: Aug 26 2010 07:24 pm

I'm getting that eye of sauron feel too, its just so creepy

Posted: Aug 27 2010 07:56 am

Looks like a butthole.

Posted: Aug 27 2010 08:23 am

My first thought was of a sunflower actually.

Joined: Jul 31 2010 Location: Callifornia Posts: 11

looks like a sarlacc pit to me

Posted: Aug 27 2010 04:04 pm

Amazing. So much beauty in our universe. Thanks for sharing this, I love space photo's.

Posted: Aug 28 2010 01:45 am

if by beauty you mean creepy and weird then you are absolutely correct haha

Posted: Aug 28 2010 01:50 am

Wow this thread is like an ink blot test.

Posted: Aug 28 2010 01:55 am

Rorschach tests??

Posted: Aug 28 2010 01:59 am

Well everyone is seeing evil eyes and buttholes....

Posted: Aug 28 2010 02:02 am

you do have a very valid point! does this make us all insane?

Posted: Aug 28 2010 02:05 am

What I want to know is what is going on in that spot and what caused it?

Very, very interesting. I want to see if someone can get a picture of the actual surface of the sun.

Posted: Aug 28 2010 02:36 am

Shut up, Dorn wrote:

Very, very interesting. I want to see if someone can get a picture of the actual surface of the sun.

That pretty much is an image of the surface of the Sun. If you are talking about an image "from" the surface, then that's impossible.

Posted: Aug 28 2010 03:02 am

Andrew Man wrote:

Shut up, Dorn wrote:

Very, very interesting. I want to see if someone can get a picture of the actual surface of the sun.

That pretty much is an image of the surface of the Sun. If you are talking about an image "from" the surface, then that's impossible.

Yeah I'd imagine there would be a bit of glare.

Posted: Aug 28 2010 03:31 am

It looks like one of those holes on the top of baseball hats to me. Very awesome photo, though.

Posted: Aug 28 2010 09:35 am

Andrew Man wrote:

Shut up, Dorn wrote:

Very, very interesting. I want to see if someone can get a picture of the actual surface of the sun.

That pretty much is an image of the surface of the Sun. If you are talking about an image "from" the surface, then that's impossible.

Right, because it's a star. I'm talking like all the way down to the actual molecular interaction. Get up in dat' star's bidness.

Posted: Aug 28 2010 10:16 am

Blackout wrote:

Well everyone is seeing evil eyes and buttholes....

Hey, I saw the sailboat right away...