APOD 1.8

To some, this large bright feature coming over the edge of the Sun, may look like some kind of monster, but it is in fact a solar prominence.  Solar prominences are bright features anchored to the sun which extend outward into the Sun's corona.  This particular one is extraoridnary because it is the largest one on record!  How big? The entire Earth could fit inside!  This solar prominence is an eruptive prominence, which means it will erupt in only a few hours, turning into hot gas which will be emitted into the solar system.  Because the Sun is heading toward solar maximum, even larger eruptive prominences are possible!!