NASA: Fiery Looping Rain on the Sun

Sun eruptions can exhibit a wide array of characteristics. Some occurrences involve only a solar flare, while others encompass an additional expulsion of solar material termed a coronal mass ejection (CME). Certain events feature intricate mobile structures connected with alterations in magnetic field lines that form loops extending into the sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

A remarkable incident took place on July 19, 2012, wherein the sun displayed all three of these phenomena. Initially, a moderately potent solar flare erupted from the sun's lower right region, emitting light and radiation. Subsequently, a CME shot off into space towards the right. Following that, the sun showcased a captivating manifestation of its magnetic forces – a phenomenon termed coronal rain.

During the ensuing day, the corona's superheated plasma cooled and condensed along robust magnetic fields present in the area. While magnetic fields themselves remain imperceptible, the charged plasma is compelled to follow these lines, creating a vivid appearance in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength at 304 Angstroms. This wavelength highlights material at approximately 50,000 Kelvin. This plasma operates as a tracer, allowing scientists to observe the intricate interplay of magnetic fields on the sun. As the plasma gradually descends back to the solar surface, it outlines the magnetic fields' configuration.

The video footage captures these events, recorded by the AIA instrument on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). With SDO capturing one frame every 12 seconds, the video plays at a rate of 30 frames per second, translating to 6 minutes of actual time per second in the video. The video's time span spans from 12:30 a.m. EDT to 10:00 p.m. EDT on July 19, 2012.