Dutch photographer Neo recently photographed a magnificent and rare astronomical phenomenon: plasma rain falling from the Sun at an incredible 200,000 kilometres per hour. This breathtaking footage highlights the dynamic nature of our star and provides a rare insight into its turbulent atmosphere.
Plasma rain, also known as coronal rain, happens when ionised gas, or plasma, falls back to the Sun’s surface from its outer atmosphere, the corona. This phenomenon occurs as plasma cools and condenses within the Sun’s magnetic fields. As the plasma cools, it condenses and grows denser before falling back to the Sun’s surface, producing a visual impression comparable to rain on Earth.
Neo’s shot, obtained using modern equipment, depicts streams of incandescent plasma descending from the Sun’s surface. The high-speed plasma is driven by solar activity and magnetic forces, exhibiting the intricate interplay between solar plasma and magnetic fields.
This rare image not only displays the beauty of solar phenomena, but it also improves our understanding of the Sun’s behaviour. Neo’s documentation of this celestial phenomenon leads to a greater understanding of solar science.
