Erupting Solar Prominence

Today, astronomers are monitoring an unusually active prominence on the sun's eastern limb.

Even veteran observers are impressed, using words like "amazing" and "jaw-dropping" to describe the activity they have seen.

One onlooker described the fountain-like eruptions as "volcanic in appearance." This beautiful activity may herald the approach of a new sunspot--or it may be just a temporary upheaval, here today and gone tomorrow.

What happens next? Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates