This image maps the magnetic activity of the whole-Sun. It shows a 360 degree of longitude in the Carrington coordinate system normally used for solar observations. The map extent is from south pole to north pole in an equal area projection. The solar equator and each 60 degrees of longitude are marked.
The Earthside, or near-side, data are smoothed magnetic flux as measured by SOHO MDI. The images are shown to 70 degrees from disk centre. Each magnetogram takes only one minute to observe. Farside images are maps of wave speed variations with locations of faster wave speed shown darker. These darker regions indicate locations where there is an accumulation of magnetic field on the far surface. The farside images can only be computed out to 45 degrees from the farside disk centre as (un)seen from Earth. A full 24-hours of MDI surface velocity data is used to compute each image. A new whole-Sun map is computed for each 12 hours.
