Two solar spin-offs - January 30, 2008

On Jan. 30, 2008 STEREO (Ahead spacecraft) observed two different kinds of spin-offs from the Sun, called eruptive prominences, over a period of several hours. The first one is harder to see because it is framed against the Sun's surface, but an elongated filament lifts up and breaks off to the right. Soon after this event, a prominence twists up in profile above the Sun's left edge (shown in still) before disappearing into space. Such eruptions are triggered by the instability of magnetic forces that held the prominences in place. These events are fairly common and fun to watch.

• 2breaks304.mov - (21.94 mb)   
• 2breaks304_4.mov - (5.44 mb)   
• 2breaks304.mpg - (3.12 mb)   
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