Amazing “prominence eruptions” on the surface of the Sun caught on film

NASA has captured stunning views of spectacular “prominence eruptions” blasting off the surface of our nearest star, the Sun.

NASA has captured stunning views of spectacular “prominence eruptions” blasting off the surface of our nearest star, the Sun.

It’s not a solar flare, according to NASA, but “material on the sun, doing what it always does, dancing and twisting — and in this case erupting off the side of the sun,” NASA spokeswoman Susan Hendrix told USA Today.

Dancing ... A "prominence eruption" recorded by NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory jumps from the surface of the sun. Picture: NASA

“A prominence is a large, bright, gaseous feature extending outward from the Sun’s surface, often in a loop shape” according to Wikipedia.

“Prominences are anchored to the Sun’s surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun’s corona.”

Early years ... Skylab captured this major eruptive prominence in 1973. Picture: Wikipedia

Usually associated with sunspot activity, solar prominences can influence Earth’s atmosphere by interfering with electromagnetic activity.

Active prominences erupt suddenly and usually disappear within minutes or hours.

Massive blast ... An eruption on April 16, 2012 was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. Picture: NASA/SDO/AIA