Dark Flag Rising

A long-lasting double flare and a coronal mass ejection erupted from the Sun over a five-hour period (Feb. 5-6, 2013). The eruptive plasma was cooler than the surface and denser, causing it to appear almost like a flag unraveling. Following the event the magnetic field lines above the source area appear as coils as they try to reconnect themselves. The event also seemed to disrupt a filament to its left, highlighting its edges in white light. Images were taken in extreme ultraviolet light.

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