Astrophotos: We Have Liftoff from the Sun!

Here are three images showing large prominences recently lifting off from the Sun’s surface. Solar prominences are sheets or arcs of luminous gas emanating from the Sun’s surface. They can loop hundreds of thousands of kilometers into space. In the image below by noted Australian amatuer Monty Leventhal, he estimates the prominence he captured stretches 233,000 km! Against the Sun, prominences appear dark, but against the sky they appear brighter. Prominences are held above the Sun’s surface by strong magnetic fields and can sometimes last for long periods of time.

See more and varied views below:

A negative image of the Sun and large prominences on March 31, 2013. Credit and copyright: César Cantú.
A negative image of the Sun and large prominences on March 31, 2013. Credit and copyright: César Cantú.
This digital filtergram shows an active prominence on the SE limb of the Sun, stretching across for approximately 233,000 km on March 27, 2013. Credit and copyright: Monty Leventhal.
This digital filtergram shows an active prominence on the SE limb of the Sun, stretching across for approximately 233,000 km on March 27, 2013. Credit and copyright: Monty Leventhal.

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One Reply to “Astrophotos: We Have Liftoff from the Sun!”

  1. Well, my time off has ended. Back to investigating, observing all I can about “Ole-Man-Sol”. My forte is Sat/Sat-Com protection. When he ‘burps’, I cringe but we learn. Flares, sun spots or whatever actions verbs(burps I call ’em)you call them. It is so awesome to witness the values of each action our star throws at us. From a small star like ours turning into a ‘red-giant then a white dwarf’, to the huge massive stars exploding into many different objects & seeding their area in space. They are ‘all’ awesome!

    Funny how the day I leave to go back to investigating our star, there is a ‘space weather’ article w/photo’s. Keep up the good work Nancy. Absorb all the knowledge you can about or stars weather & actions.

    Take care all ;-)… .

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