Sunspot penumbra
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Evolution of penumbral filaments
Hinode/Broadband Filter Imager
This movie shows the evolution of penumbral filaments and a light bridge in the main spot of active region 10953, as observed in G-band intensity by the Broadband Filter Imager on the Hinode satellite. The G band samples the solar photosphere. At the time of the observations, the spot was located very close to the center of the solar disk.
Penumbral filaments are elongated structures surrounding the sunspot umbra. Dark patches can be seen to move radially outward along penumbral filaments in the outer part of the penumbra. In the inner penumbra, the bright heads of the filaments move radially inwards, toward the umbra. The lifetime of penumbral filaments, of the order of hours, is much larger than that of the granular cells observed outside of the spot.
To download the movie, click HERE
Movie credit: Kiyoshi Ichimoto (Kyoto University)
Observations by Hinode (ISAS/JAXA, NAOJ, NASA, STFC, ESA)