SOHO is a mission of international co-operation between ESA and NASA, launched on 2 December 1995. This picture was taken on 1 December 2004 at 20:19 CET on the eve of SOHO's ninth anniversary. It was taken with the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board SOHO.

Every day SOHO sends thrilling images from which research scientists learn about the Sun's nature and behaviour. Experts around the world use SOHO images and data to help them predict 'space weather' events affecting our planet.