3 solar prominences on the Sun

[Delta4Embassy]

SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids

"SOLAR PROMINENCES: The face of the sun may be quiet, but the edge of the sun is not. Astronomers are monitoring three large prominences--plumes of magnetized plasma jutting tens of thousands of kilometers into space. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured all three in a single image on Nov. 27th

None of these structures is stable. Magnetic fields holding the plasma aloft are twisted, tangled, and prone to explosive magnetic reconnection. Any of the three could erupt at any moment.

Because the prominences are so large--each one is taller than Earth--they make easy targets for backyard solar telescopes. Amateur astronomers are encouraged to train their optics on the edge of the sun."

 

[Delta4Embassy]

UPDATE:

"SOLAR PROMINENCE, POISED TO ERUPT? The face of the sun may be quiet, but the edge of the sun is not. A gigantic arch of plasma is dancing along the sun's southwestern limb. Shahrin Ahmad of Sri Damansara, Malaysia, photographed the structure on Nov. 28th:

Ahmad inserted a picture of Earth for scale. The plasma-filed prominence stretches more than 150,000 km from end to end--dimensions that make it an easy target for backyard solar telescopes. Monitoring is encouraged. Magnetic fields holding the plasma aloft are twisted, tangled, and prone to explosive magnetic reconnection. An eruption could occur at any moment."