A Partial Eclipse of an Active Sun

Explanation: Watch for three things in this unusual eclipse video. First, watch for a big dark circle to approach from the right to block out more and more of the Sun. This dark circle is the Moon , and the video was made primarily to capture this partial solar eclipse last week . Next, watch a large solar prominence hover and shimmer over the Sun's edge . A close look will show that part of it is actually falling back to the Sun . The prominence is made of hot plasma that is temporarily held aloft by the Sun's changing magnetic field . Finally, watch the Sun's edge waver . What is wavering is a dynamic carpet of hot gas tubes rising and falling through the Sun's chromosphere -- tubes known as spicule s. The entire 4-second time-lapse video covers a time of about ten minutes, although the Sun itself is expected to last another 5 billion years .

Partial Solar Eclipse in October 2022: Notable Submissions to APOD