(See description below)
Sunspot Loops in Ultraviolet
Large sunspot group AR 9169 is visible as the bright area near the horizon. Shown in ultraviolet light, the relatively cool dark regions have temperatures of thousands of degrees Celsius. The bright glowing gas flowing around the sunspots has a temperature of over one million degrees Celsius. The reason for the high temperatures is unknown but thought to be related to the rapidly changing magnetic field loops that channel solar plasma. Sunspot group AR 9169 moved across the Sun during 2000 September and decayed in a few weeks.