A Triangular Prominence Hovers Over the Sun

A Triangular Prominence Hovers Over the Sun

Image Credit & Copyright:
Andrea Vanoni

Explanation:
Why is there a triangle hovering over the Sun?

Although the shape is unusual, the type of structure is not:
it is part of an evolving
solar prominence.

Looping magnetic fields on the
Sun channel the flow of
energetic particles, sometimes holding glowing gaseous structures aloft for months.

A prominence
glows brightly because it contains particularly hot, dense, or opaque solar
plasma.

The
surprising triangular structure occurred last week.

Larger than our Earth, the
iconic prominence
was imaged by several solar photographers and
documented by NASA’s
Solar Dynamic Observatory
to form and violently dissipate in about a day.

The
featured image was captured in a color of
red light
emitted strongly by
hydrogen.

Below,
solar fibrils carpet the
Sun’s chromosphere,
while the background sky is so faint
in comparison that no stars are visible.

Our Sun’s surface has been
quite active this year.