Over a 12-hour period on May 11, 2006, SOHO observed one or more solar prominences that rose up on the edge of the Sun, seemed to fade partially away, and became quite structured and elongated before it apparently erupted and disappeared altogether. Whether this is one or more prominences, we cannot be certain.

The series of images in extreme UV light was taken in 6-hour increments, the frequency at which this instruments (EIT 304) typically images the Sun. In the 12 hours before the first image shown above, a prominence is visible, but not well- defined. And in the image taken after the third image, all evidence of a prominence is completely gone. Prominences are cooler clouds of gas suspended above the surface of the Sun. They are controlled by powerful magnetic forces and we are witnessing the force a magnetic field exerts on the plasma (that is, electrically charged material) trying to move across the field. Prominences can last from hours to months but are not very stable.

Previous Picks of the Week

SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.

If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.