Sun  ID: 11596

Solar Arcs

Story by Kristen Basham Released on August 19, 2014
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Superheated structures rise from the sun.
On June 3, 2014, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, spacecraft captured a 500,000-mile-long filament stretching across the sun’s atmosphere. Resembling a fiery whip, these suspended clouds made of million-degree electrified gases rise and fall in giant arcs above the surface. Scientists actually have two different names for these types of features depending on where on the sun they’re observed. When seen hanging over the sun’s face, scientists call them filaments. But when projecting from the sun’s limb, they’re called prominences. The massive structures can last up to several months, and will occasionally break apart in sudden eruptions. When this happens, solar material can be sent out into space, and if it moves toward Earth, it can spark stunning auroras. Watch the video for an up-close look at a solar filament.
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This 500,000-mile-long filament was observed by SDO from June 3-4, 2014.
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This filament, measuring more than 600,000 miles, covered much of the sun's disk.
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The life of this filament ended in a blast that sent solar material soaring toward Earth.
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SDO spotted this prominence extending from the sun’s lower-left limb in 2011.

Story Credits

Lead Writer:
Kristen Basham (NASA/GSFC)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Video and images courtesy of NASA/SDO

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11596

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Sun