Churning Solar Prominence Spotted Above Sun Surface

A twisting solar prominence rose above the surface of the sun and churned for two days, from January 23 to 24, before collapsing.

This newly released footage from NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory shows the phenomenon.

Solar prominences are large bursts of plasma that extend from the sun’s surface towards the corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere. They are caused by magnetic forces, and some prominences may exist in the corona for months, according to information released by NASA. Credit: NASA/SDO via Storyful