Coronal loop: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:20, 29 January 2007

Revision as of 21:25, 29 January 2007

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from [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] as part of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Small Explorer (SMEX) project. The small orbiting instrument has a 30×160cm, 8.66m focal length Cassegrain telescope with a 1200×1200px CCD detector. The timing of the launch was planned to coincide with the rising phase of the solar maximum. Observations of the transition region and lower corona could then be carried out in conjunction with SOHO to give an unprecedented view of the solar environment during this exciting phase of the solar cycle.

[[Image:Tracemosaic.jpg|thumb|200px|leftright|Full-disk mosaic of the million-degree [[Sun]] by [[TRACE]]]]

Due to the high spatial (1 arc second) and temporal resolution (1-5sec), TRACE has been able to capture highly detailed images of coronal structures, whilst SOHO provides the global (lower resolution) picture of the Sun. This campaign demonstrates the observatory’s ability to track the evolution of steady-state (or [[quiescent]]) coronal loops. TRACE utilizes filters that are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in the 171Å FeIX, 195Å FeXII, 284Å FeXV, 1216Å HI, 1550Å CIV and 1600Å range. Of particular interest are the 171Å, 195Å and 284Å band passes as they are sensitive to the radiation emitted by quiescent coronal loops.