The Sun's corona is extremely hot, much hotter than the surface. The structure of the corona is due to the tremendous magnetic field of the sun. Streamers, delicate fans and swirls are often seen in the corona. The picture below was shot with a longer exposure time in order to reveal the outer corona. The corona and the sun itself are dynamic objects which change with time. People often refer to the corona as being "alive." When you look at pictures of a total solar eclipse pay close attention to the structure of the corona and compare it with pictures taken of another eclipse. You should be able to easily discern the differences between the two.

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