APOD: 2022 February 16 - Eiffel Tower Prominence on the Sun

Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the February 16th Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Eiffel Tower Prominence on the Sun." A prominence is a large, bright feature extending outward from the Sun's surface. Prominences are anchored to the Sun's surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun's hot outer atmosphere, called the corona. The red-glowing is hot gas (aka plasma) comprised of electrically charged hydrogen and helium. The plasma flows along a tangled and twisted structure of magnetic fields generated by the Sun itself.

So how big are we talking here? While the prominence does resemble the shape of the Eiffel Tower, it is approximately the height of Jupiter. In other words, big.