Popping Off

Pieces of the Sun were flying off into space in different forms over two days (Oct. 25-26, 2010) as STEREO (Ahead) observed in extreme ultraviolet light. A swirling mass of particles rose up and spun for about a day before lifting off. Then a prominence eruption curled up and out near the Sun's north pole. Lastly, an active region shot out a narrow jet of plasma in profile on the left side. None of these actions was unusual, but we do not often get to see them sequenced so close together.

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