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L. W. Acton (Montana State University)
My scientific research has been propelled by overriding curiosities about:
What does it look like? What is its spectrum? How does it move and change?
Fortunately, for the solar astronomer, it is increasingly possible to satisfy such curiosities in exquisite detail. In this lecture I will trace the evolution of our knowledge of solar coronal morphology and spectroscopy since the dawn of the space age. Most of what we see is shaped and driven by solar magnetism. The magnetic topology must needs be represented by cartoons which grasp the salient points of the structures before the astrophysics, of such a complex region as a magnetized stellar atmosphere, can be modelled and understood. I shall endeavor to illustrate how the observations, and the cartoons, are improving.
I am grateful for NASA funding, the primary support of my research over 36 years.
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The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: acton@physics.montana.edu