Term: | prominence |
Definition: |
A term identifying cloud-like features in the solar atmosphere. The features appear as bright structures above the solar limb and as dark filaments when seen projected against the solar disk. They are most clearly and most often observed in H-alpha. |
Term: | prominence |
Definition: |
A solar prominence is a large bright feature extending outwards from the sun's surface, often in a loop configuration. Prominences are anchored to the solar surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the solar corona. While the corona consists of extremely hot ionized gases, known as plasma, which do not emit much visible light, prominences contain much cooler plasma, similar in composition to that of the chromosphere. A prominence forms over timescales of about a day, and stable prominences may persist in the corona for several months. Some prominences break apart and give rise to coronal mass ejections |