Swirling Plasma This close-up view of a prominence reveals magnetic forces at work as they pull plasma strands this way and that before it gradually breaks away from the Sun over a one-day period (Nov. 14-15, 2011). The activity was observed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory in a wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. This prominence activity is not uncommon, especially now that the Sun's overall level of activity is increasing towards its peak expected around mid-2013.