National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

TRACE: Active Region 9415 on 10 April 2001 at 06:00 UT in 171Å (characteristic of emission from gas at 1 million Kelvin). The field of view is 232,000 by 174,000 km; the image was rotated over +120 degrees. These loops are the result of an X2.3 flare that started at 05:06 UT. The flare showed a classic double ribbon structure. As the ribbons spread apart with time the post-flare arcade of cooling, draining loops was formed, expanding with time

A typical CME can be millions of kilometers in size, but have the mass of only a small mountain!