<p>This LASCO C2 image shows a very large coronal mass ejection(CME) blasting off into space on 2 December 2002.  It presents the classic shape of a CME:  a large bulbous front with a second,more compact, inner core of hot plasma. This material erupts away from the Sun at speeds of one to two million miles (or km) per hour.
</p><p>20021202c2cme
</p><p>A &lt;a href="<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/images/20021202c2cme.html">http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/images/20021202c2cme.html</a> target=" target="" rel="nofollow"&gt;SOHO (ESA &amp; NASA)&lt;/a&gt; Image.
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The image was created for a &lt;a href="<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.scitechlab.com/">http://www.scitechlab.com/</a>" rel="nofollow"&gt;www.scitechlab.com/&lt;/a&gt; blog post on the &lt;a href="<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://scitechlab.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/the-auroras-or-northern-polar-lights/">http://scitechlab.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/the-auroras-or-northern-polar-lights/</a>" rel="nofollow"&gt;Northern Lights&lt;/a&gt;.
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2819895025/">05 Coronal Mass Ejection</a>