From the final journey of Space Shuttle Endeavour to the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, view our monthly roundup of cosmic highlights from October 2012.
Looking at the sun helps show how the lines between science and art can sometimes blur. A gradient filter enhances areas of contrast, which makes them both more striking visually and also easier for astronomers to study. Scientists can get a better look at coronal loops, for example — giant arcs of solar material that travel along magnetic fields in the sun's atmosphere. This can lead to an improved understanding of solar magnetism as a whole, which can also power eruptions on the sun such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections.
From the final journey of Space Shuttle Endeavour to the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, view our monthly roundup of cosmic highlights from October 2012.