A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) captured by the the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment (LASCO) C3 Instrument aboard the SOHO spacecraft. Because the Sun is so bright, an occulting disk is used to block the direct light. The small circle on the occulting disk represents the size of the Sun. You should be able to see the mounting arm (at about 7 o'clock) holding the occulting disk in place. The CMEs appear as expanding rings around the Sun. The energetic particles released are headed toward the spacecraft and Earth. CME activity for the month of April, 2001 is presented in this movie. As you watch the movie you may notice the planet Mercury orbiting the Sun.