A rare and unusual phenomenon has been observed on the Sun — an emission of a "ghostly structure of a distinct black color." This was reported by scientists from the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in their latest report.

"A very rare, beautiful, and even slightly eerie phenomenon occurred today on our star. Right in the center of the visible disk, a ghostly structure of a distinct black color was formed, and then partially ejected into space, and partially dissipated in the corona. Frankly speaking, it is simply very beautiful, and even knowing what it is, it is still difficult to shake off some kind of mystical feeling," the publication notes.

What actually happened on the Sun?

According to scientists, the black tint of the plasma is due to the presence of neutral hydrogen, which absorbs light of certain wavelengths. Experts suggest that the cause of the emission was a solar flare, during which a cold prominence containing a significant amount of neutral hydrogen was ejected into the surrounding space.

Observations showed that the black cloud of plasma remained in the corona for about three hours, after which it completely dissipated.

Solar activity this month

In January, three powerful flares of the highest X value occurred on the Sun. According to Sergei Bogachev, head of the Solar Astronomy Laboratory at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the flares occurred in one of the active regions of the Sun, located in the northern hemisphere of the star.

This zone, designated number 3947, is currently located at an angle of approximately 50 degrees from the Earth, but its position is gradually changing. Scientists do not rule out that under certain conditions such flares can affect our planet, causing geomagnetic storms.