The Sun

Solar Filaments



Credit: Greg Piepol

Filaments are formed in magnetic loops that hold relatively cool, dense gas suspended above the surface of the Sun. We call the same phenomena prominences when we see it from the side. The name is defined by the angle with which we look at the Sun. As you can see they are huge!

The reason why they have a darker color than the rest of the sun disk, is because of the lower temperature.