Solar eruption elegantly ascended from the Sun, twisting and undulating

• Solar Ballet • A solar eruption elegantly ascended from the Sun, twisting and undulating in a fluid motion.

The majority of the plasma mass eventually returned to the Sun (Dec. 31, 2012). This four-hour phenomenon was captured in extreme ultraviolet light, with images taken every 30 seconds. While magnetic forces influenced the plasma's movement, they lacked the strength to counteract the Sun's gravitational pull. Overall, solar activity levels remain below expectations, as the Sun is believed to be approaching its peak activity later this year.

To provide a sense of scale, an image of Earth is superimposed on the solar eruption. The eruption's length extends approximately 160,000 miles from the Sun. Given that Earth has a diameter of about 7,900 miles, this relatively minor eruption is roughly 20 times the diameter of our planet. • Credit: SDO/NASA