AI Generated Image
Mesmerizing plasma loops on the sun photo of the day for Sept. 3, 2026
Space • • science
Key Points:
- Astrophotographer Mark Johnston captured a high-resolution timelapse of a rare coronal loop arcade above the sun from his backyard in Scottsdale, Arizona, on August 21, 2026.
- The footage, taken over more than two hours, shows glowing plasma loops shaped by the sun's magnetic field, including "coronal rain" as cooled material falls back along magnetic lines.
- Johnston used specialized hydrogen-alpha solar imaging equipment to reveal detailed structures in the sun's atmosphere that are typically difficult to observe.
- The side-on view of the coronal loop at the sun's edge is an uncommon and dramatic perspective, making this capture particularly remarkable.
- Johnston monitors NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory daily, allowing him to quickly respond to dynamic solar events like this one.
