SPACE.com and America Online present the Top 10 images of the Sun taken by the SOHO spacecraft, based on votes cast by the public.

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has been monitoring the Sun for nearly eight years. It has been near death three times but has so far survived to provide crucial early warnings of impending space weather that can destroy satellites and knock out power grids. Scientists credit SOHO with allowing forecasts that prevent damage and losses that might otherwise occur.

To mark the Dec. 2 anniversary of the mission's 1995 launch, the SOHO team conducted an online vote for the best shots. Each voter was allowed to pick five images, and 10 of the 30 on the ballot are presented below, ranked in order of popularity.

SOHO is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency.

"These images, while not selected for their scientific impact or value, help bring to the public's attention the variety and stunning visual aspect of solar observation being performed by NASA and others," said Steele Hill, a media specialist with the SOHO project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "They also present the dynamic nature of the Sun, its variability, and its powerful influence on space weather. We hope that they may inspire others to learn more about the Sun and explore the field of science in general."

No. 1 - Picked by 47.8% of voters

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The Sun is hot, of course. But looking at the emissions of various chemicals at specific temperatures allows scientists to better grasp what's going on. The orange star becomes a multicolored laboratory.

This composite image from SOHO's Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) combines images in three different wavelengths to show solar features unique to each. It reveals ionized iron at three distinct temperatures all exceeding about 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit (1 million degrees C).

Note: Percent of votes shows how many of the voters picked this image while making up to five choices, so the total exceeds 100 percent.

This exclusive presentation is part of SPACE.com's Science Tuesday weekly features. Use the navigation below to see all 10 images