100,000-mile-high plasma tower erupts from the Sun, showing a real fireworks display. Photos and videos

100,000-mile-high plasma tower was spotted erupting from the Sun. Astrophotographer Mark Johnston, NASA Solar System Ambassador and Vice President of the Phoenix Astronomical Society, observed the Sun in late August with a special telescope and captured images of the incredible show.

Arcs of plasma (superheated gases), known as solar prominences (structures made of plasma and magnetic field that appear on the surface of the Sun), rise to incredible heights above the surface of our star. The astrophotographer compiled his images of the solar spectacle into a stunning video published by Space.

"The height of the largest of the two prominences in the video is about 160K km or 100K miles. For the video, I took about 100 540-frame videos 25 seconds apart, so that the time lapse video represents about an hour of real time activity on the sun. Some images in the video are more blurry than others due to momentary changes in atmospheric seeing conditions," Johnston said.

In addition to the epic video, Johnston captured breathtaking images of the solar activity. The photographer posted them on his Instagram page.

""In general the seeing was good, about 4/5. All images taken by me from my backyard in Scottsdale, Arizona," the photographer said.

He also added that he used his TEC160FL refractor, which he custom-modified into a double-stacked hydrogen-alpha solar telescope, for all the photos.

Remember that observing the Sun without the proper equipment can be dangerous. Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye, especially through augmented optics such as a telescope or binoculars. Whatever equipment you use, make sure it has a certified sunscreen filter.

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