Fine Structure of Photospheric Faculae

Abstract

Properties of the photospheric bright points associated with magnetic flux tubes are reviewed both in faculae (facular points) and in the photospheric network (network bright points — NBPs) out of active regions. A special attention is given to their size distribution, to their location relative to the granular, mesogranular and supergranular patterns, and to their relation with the small scale magnetic features, both in active and quiet regions. In particular a new granulation movie reveals that NBPs form in large intergranular spaces, compressed by the surrounding granules.