Coronal Image Processing

New image processing techniques, applied to EUV and white light observations of the corona, reveal spectacular fine-scale detail and an accurate depiction of large-scale structure. The sequence of images below ( and the linked movie) shows an amazing CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) propogating through the North-west corona. The field of view shown is from 2.3 to 16 solar radii, combining observations by two coronagraphs aboard the SOHO satellite (LASCO C2 and C3). Note the detailed structure seen within the CME, and the buffeting of surrounding structures by the massive explosive event.

CME event of 2000/12/03 or click here to see animation

One useful aspect of the new techniques is the ease with which we can join data from various imaging instruments, without smoothing or interpolation. In the images and movie shown above, for example, the join between the LASCO C2 and C3 fields of view is almost flawless. The image below shows an observations by 4 instruments. From low heights to high: an Extreme-UV imager called EIT (onboard SOHO), a ground-based coronagraph on Mauna Loa (MLSO MKIV), then LASCO C2 and C3 (SOHO).

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