gamma_sun.tif

This is a likelihood map of the sun during its June 15, 1991, solar flare.  The 
flare produced steams of neutrons, which were visible to COMPTEL aboard the 
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.  CGRO doesn't see the sun during non-flaring 
periods.  This flare event provided the first evidence that the sun can 
accelerate particles great distances for several hours.  The phenomenon was not 
observed before CGRO and represents a new understanding of solar flares.  The 
colors of the likelihood map indicate the likelihood of the location of the 
source.  The highest likelihood here is represented in red; the lowest 
likelihood is blue.  Thus the very center of the image, roughly centered on the 
sun (which is about the same diameter as the inner red circle) indicates that 
the sun is indeed the source.

Credit:  COMPTEL team, University of New Hampshire