These amazing image and video of a new active region that appeared on the Sun on June 19th were taken by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Active regions are areas of enhanced magnetic activity on the Sun’s surface, generating the huge loops and dynamic surges observed here. Charged particles spinning along the field lines above the active region are illuminated in this wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. The superimposed Earth icon gives a sense of just how large these loops are.