This is a snapshot of the prominence. Credit: NASA/SDO

Just as sunspot 1105 was turning away from Earth on Sept. 8, the active region erupted, producing a C3-class solar flare (peak @ 2330 UT) and a fantastic prominence.

Just as 1105 was turning away from Earth on Sept. 8, the active region erupted, producing a and a fantastic prominence. The eruption also hurled a bright coronal mass ejection into space. The eruption was not directed toward any planets.

Just as sunspot 1105 was turning away from Earth on Sept. 8, the active region erupted, producing a C3-class solar flare (peak @ 2330 UT) and a fantastic prominence. This is a three color closeup of the activity taken by Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO). The accompanying coronal mass ejection (CME) was not directed toward any planets.

Provided by JPL/NASA