Solar Nexus, 2014 (digital photo)

Creator: Alexandra Hart In this image there there is aot of twisting and snaking of magnetically intertwined plasma.The mesmerizing swirls of superheated gas in this image may induce a feeling of serenity, but this is far from a quiet scene for our star, the Sun. The dark strands, called filaments, that we see in this image more than likely have a ferocious destiny ahead. The magnetic chaperones that keep the filaments in place will eventually break down, unravelling to violently fling the stellar material off into space as a solar storm. Born Digital Photograph entitled 'Solar Nexus', taken by Alexandra Hart, on the 16th February 2014 in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, United Kingdom Taken with a TEC140 refractor, EQ6, Pro mount, Solarscope DSF 100 MM f/18 lens; PGR Grasshopper, 3 camera. Highly Commended in the Our Solar System category of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2014.