Sun Storm: A Coronal Mass Ejection
Explanation:
What's happening to our Sun?
Another
Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)!
The Sun-orbiting
SOHO spacecraft has imaged many
erupting filaments
lifting off
the active solar surface and blasting enormous bubbles of
magnetic plasma into space.
Direct light from the sun is blocked in the inner part of the
featured image, taken in 2002, and replaced by a simultaneous image of the Sun
in
ultraviolet
light.
The field of view extends over two million kilometers from the
solar surface.
While hints of
these explosive events, called
coronal mass ejections or CMEs,
were discovered by spacecraft in the early 70s,
this dramatic image is part of a detailed record
of this CME's development from the presently operating
SOHO spacecraft.
Near the maximum of the
solar activity cycle,
CMEs now typically occur several times a week.
Strong CMEs may profoundly influence
space weather.
Those directed toward our planet can have
serious effects.
Astrophysicists:
Browse 1,100+ codes in the Astrophysics Source Code Library
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
