The Sun: Plasma Mash-up

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Plasma Mash-up

A blob of solar plasma that rose up above the Sun for about 40 hours found itself being pulled this way and that by powerful magnetic forces before it finally fell apart (Sept. 8-9, 2013). The images were taken in extreme ultraviolet light of material heated to about 60,000 degrees C. Observations of events like this are fairly common, but most easily seen in profile. The still image was taken around 15:20 UT on Sept. 8.

Credit: Solar Dynamics Observatory/NASA

Source: NASA/SDO - Pick of the week