On Wednesday, the US space agency released footage of a solar prominence recorded by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The video showed a cloud of solar material unfolding over a time span of 17 hours prior to breaking away from the sun.

The solar prominence, which is a magnetically charged cloud of heated gas, called plasma, erupted over the sun’s surface and was noticed by the SDO on February 3.

Solar prominences follow the magnetic field of the sun and can break off to make a coronal mass ejection (CME). In this instance nothing like that was observed. The origination of charged plasma takes place in the chromosphere, the second layer of the atmosphere of sun. It can extend to the third and final layer the corona.

According to NASA, solar prominences are led by the same magnetic forces that can cause solar flares and CMEs, though the reason behind the phenomenon isn’t known so far.

Sun has been very active in the first half of the month. The Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service said that a minor geomagnetic storm was caused on February 3 because of a coronal hole high speed stream, a firm stream of charged gas slower as compared to a CME.

On February 12, an M1 solar flare was noticed. The classification of solar flares is done by their strength. The most powerful ones are the X-class solar flares, which are followed by M-class and C-class flares. A CME linked to the solar flare caused a geomagnetic storm watch on February 14 and 15.

On February 16, another coronal hole high speed stream led to a minor geomagnetic storm. A geomagnetic storm can have a bad impact on power systems, spacecraft operations and navigation systems.

A minor (G1) geomagnetic storm can cause increased aurora activity and slight fluctuations in power grids, whereas a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm can compel spacecraft to regulate course to prevent risky conditions.