PROMINENCE

A prominence is a stream of solar plasma suspended above the solar surface by magnetic energy. Since it is no longer in contact with the surface it is cooler and appears dark. A prominence and a filament are the same physical phenomena and differ only by viewing angle. A prominence is viewed from the side and and is seen bright against the backdrop of space. A filament is viewed from above and seen dark silhouetted against the Sun’s surface. Both phenomena can be tens of thousands of miles in length and height. Both can contain billions of tons of solar material.

Solar prominence