Our Sun 2025

A Sun Yawn by Zhang Yanguang

"This image sequence documents the eruption of a massive solar prominence, originating as a small protrusion from the Sun’s surface that subsequently expanded into an enormous plasma structure in space before eventually dissipating into the void. Using 11 sequentially captured images taken approximately minutes apart, I documented the entire celestial event – as if the Sun had let out a cosmic yawn, stretching and releasing its luminous plasma energies back into the stellar expanse."

Taken in Xiamen, Fujian, China, 17 December 2024

500,000-km Solar Prominence Eruption by PengFei Chou

"On 7 November 2024, the Sun experienced the eruption of a massive solar prominence, with a length exceeding 500,000 km (311,000 miles). I was incredibly fortunate to capture the entire process of this eruption, lasting approximately one hour from its initial outburst to its conclusion. During the eruption’s rising phase, the prominence reached peak brightness, making it the best time for photography.

This prominence is the largest I’ve captured since I began studying solar observation. The eruption phase of the prominences composed of more than 20 stacked data sets highlighting the entire process of this spectacular event."

Taken in Eastern New District, Xinxing County, Guangdong Province, China, 7 November 2024