Encore - Solar Prominence

November 28, 2015

EPOD_EncoreJfcoliac130410sun

Today, and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers’ Choice polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating images.
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Photographer: Jean Francois Coliac
Summary Author: Jean Francois Coliac; Jim Foster

The image above shows a huge solar prominence (at bottom) as observed from Marseille, France on the morning of April 13, 2010. According to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), this was the largest prominence observed in years; stretching an estimated 500,000 mi (800,000 km). Prominences are dramatically erupting, often loop-shaped plasma clouds that hover above the solar disk. They appear to emanate from the Sun's photosphere and protrude into the Sun's extremely hot corona

Photo Details: Lunt 60 mm H alpha; PL1M camera.