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2024 December 05

DELTA

Hinode/XRT stamp designs!

Hinode/XRT Stamps

If the Hinode X-Ray Telescope (XRT) team were tasked with creating a selection of U.S. Postal Service Forever Stamps, we might showcase the arrival of Solar Maximum during Solar Cycle 25 in October 2024, as announced by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). You can watch the discussion on YouTube.

The stamps presented here feature images captured on October 3, 2024, highlighting various filters on board the XRT instrument, including Al-mesh, Al-med, Be-thin, Al-poly + Ti-poly, Al-poly, and Be-med. These filters allow XRT to observe the Sun’s dynamic corona with stunning detail:
  • Al-mesh: Captures faint, low-energy X-rays from the corona.
  • Al-med: Highlights mid-range X-rays for studying active regions.
  • Be-thin: Detects high-energy X-rays, showcasing hotter solar features.
  • Al-poly + Ti-poly: Balances sensitivity across broad energy ranges.
  • Al-poly: Provides detailed imaging of coronal structures.
  • Be-med: Optimized for high-energy X-rays in hotter plasma regions.
These observations offer a glimpse into the heightened solar activity of this cycle, beautifully commemorated through XRT's imaging. Which XRT image would you like to see featured on a stamp?

Keywords: Solar Cycle
Filters: Al-mesh,Al-med,Be-thin,Al-poly+Ti-poly, Al-poly, and Be-med


(Prepared by Joy Velasquez)

The XRT instrument team is comprised of SAO, NASA, JAXA, and NAOJ.

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