Solar Magnetic Bananas
			
		
		
		
			Is that our Sun?  The unusual banana-shaped loops shown above are actually part of a 
computer-generated snap-shot of our 
Sun's magnetic field.
  
This animated frame was constructed using 
data from the ground-based U.S. 
Solar Vector Magnetograph and the 
space-based Japanese X-Ray Telescope 
Yohkoh.  Surfaces of constant 
magnetic field strength loop through the 
Sun's corona, break through the 
Sun's surface, and connect regions of magnetic activity such as 
sunspots.  
Recently, 
contact has been interrupted with the Sun-watching 
SOHO satellite.  
Although SOHO had completed its two year mission, 
attempts are still being made to re-establish communication.