A somewhat controversial minority opinion holds that the Sun is a much smaller body than is commonly thought, and located quite close to the Earth.
This hypothesis also states that the heat of the Sun is generated not by nuclear fusion, but by the conbustion of hydrogen, which completely fills the Sun's interior and is compacted by tremendous pressure into a dense, metallic fluid despite the high temperatures.
At the surface of the Sun this metallic hydrogen is cooled into a semi-solid layer which serves to keep the fluid contained; however, occasionally a solid body of significant size, such as an asteroid, may strike the Sun and the impact will create a temporary opening, through which the fluid leaks out.
It is thought that the image captured in the above photo shows just such an event.
Gazing at this awe-inspiring image of cosmic violence one cannot help but be reminded of the creation myth of the Yanomamo of the Amazon basin, which states that men were formed out of the blood spilled by the Moon Spirit when he was shot in the belly for eating the souls of children.
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