When The Sun Erupts

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North America's, National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA) today released rare footage of Solar Prominences - large glowing clouds of gas erupting from the Sun's surface.

The spectacular images of the eruptions that occured over a 30-hour period on September 26th and 27th, were captured by the twin STEREO (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) spacecraft, imaginatively dubbed Ahead and Behind, based on their positions in Space. The spacecraft were launched in 2006 to provide NASA with a three dimensional view of the Sun.

Solar Prominences are huge arcs of gas that erupt from the surface of the Sun. They occur because of the solar activity cycle. As is well-known, the sun is a huge magnetic ball of gas, held in place by a magnetic field. As the sun rotates, the heat in its interior, churns the cooler, subsurface gas layer creating giant gas bubbles.

Ever so often, the bubbles breach the surface of the sun and break out. When they reach 30,000 miles above the surface of the Sun - like this one did, they release huge amounts of material, at speeds of up to 2,160,000 mph, before dissipating - and appear as though the Sun is erupting!

sources: englishcctv.com, Solar Prominence ,telegraph.com.uk

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62 Comments
  • gecko goesover 4 years
    cool
    • Cameronabout 5 years
      Cool!
      • skicbro0
        skicbro0about 5 years
        i never actually knew the sun irupts either
        • skicbro0
          skicbro0about 5 years
          NOOOO WAY SOOOOOO COOOL!!!!!
          • ryanover 5 years
            cool
            • nflchampion36
              nflchampion36about 7 years
              Wow never knew that the sun erupts!
              • alienogggggggggabout 8 years
                I like this artical it is so coooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!
                • mooover 8 years
                  cool
                  • shae123over 8 years
                    I think this artical is interesting
                    • im cooler than over 8 years
                      the sun is the coldest place on earth/space and its very blue and brown its also very very dark and not bright.