A Twisted Solar Eruptive Prominence

Ten Earths could easily fit in the “claw” of this seemingly solar monster. The monster, actually a huge eruptive prominence, is seen moving out from our Sun in this condensed half-hour time-lapse sequence. This large prominence , though, is significant not only for its size, but its shape. The twisted figure eight shape indicates that a complex magnetic field threads through the emerging solar particles . Differential rotation of gas just inside the surface of the Sun might help account for the surface explosion. The five frame sequence was taken in early 2000 by the Sun-orbiting SOHO satellite . Although large prominence s and energetic Coronal Mass Ejection s (CMEs) are relatively rare, they are again occurring more frequently now that we are near the Solar Maximum , a time of peak sunspot and solar activity in the eleven-year solar cycle . A Twisted Solar Eruptive Prominence Explanation: Ten Earths could easily fit in the “claw” of this seemingly solar monster. The monster, actually a huge eruptive prominence, is seen moving out from our Sun in this condensed half-hour time-lapse sequence. This large prominence , though, is significant not only for its size, but its shape. The twisted figure eight shape indicates that a complex magnetic field threads through the emerging solar particles . Differential rotation of gas just inside the surface of the Sun might help account for the surface explosion. The five frame sequence was taken in early 2000 by the Sun-orbiting SOHO satellite . Although large prominence s and energetic Coronal Mass Ejection s (CMEs) are relatively rare, they are again occurring more frequently now that we are near the Solar Maximum , a time of peak sunspot and solar activity in the eleven-year solar cycle .