Mark Johnston Captures 2 Giant Solar Prominences, Including 'Godzilla'-Like Plasma Tower
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Jun 5
Mark Johnston Captures 2 Giant Solar Prominences, Including 'Godzilla'-Like Plasma Tower
2 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jun 5
Summary
Two new videos shot on May 22 and May 31 show giant solar prominences above the sun, including one Johnston said looked like a looming "Godzilla" figure.
Johnston said the apparent flowing or wind-swept motion is mostly driven by the sun's magnetic fields, with some material falling back as coronal rain.
The Scottsdale, Arizona, astrophotographer recorded the footage from his backyard using a 160mm refractor fitted with a hydrogen-alpha solar filter.
Solar prominences are superheated plasma structures tethered to the sun by magnetic fields; seen against the solar disk, the same features are called filaments.
Johnston stressed the glowing structures are not fire, and the report warned that observing the sun requires certified solar filters to avoid eye damage.