Massive solar eruption carves 60,000-mile-long 'canyon of fire' into the sun on Halloween night

Late on Oct. 31, a massive loop of plasma broke off from the sun and temporarily left behind a massive canyon in the solar surface. (Image credit: NASA/SOHO)

A massive plume of plasma that erupted from the sun on Halloween briefly carved out an enormous "canyon of fire" on the solar surface that was twice as wide as the contiguous U.S. and more than seven times as long as Earth. 

The enormous, fiery valley is another striking reminder that the sun is fast approaching its explosive peak — the solar maximum.