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The Sun is Waking Up

Started by PPI Brian, April 17, 2012, 07:28:36 PM

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PPI Brian

NASA released images and a video of a solar prominence today, a giant arch of super-hot gases bursting off the sun's surface.

The prominence, shot yesterday from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory telescope, is associated with a solar flare, a brightening on the sun's surface that often occurs when a piece of the sun's atmosphere breaks off from the sun.

In this case, the medium-size solar flare was off the east side of the sun. It is not directed toward Earth. As such, it doesn't threaten to disrupt satellites or air travel, as other solar flares have.

The sun is entering a period of high activity, which means that the chances of a coronal mass ejection are higher. These bursts of high-energy matter and magnetic waves break off from the sun and, when directed toward Earth, can interact with the Earth's magnetic field.

That causes the auroras borealis at the poles and, if the conditions are right, could impact satellite communications, air travel, and the power grid.

The event shot by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is still in progress.

http://www.youtube.com/v/q3ARv_IItmQ
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."--Carl Sagan

PPI Tim

Sounds interesting...Go on.

PPI Brian

Quote from: PPI Tim on April 17, 2012, 09:46:29 PM
Graphic! I see no graphic.

Really? I'll have to check the settings on your browser. It displays okay on IE 8 & 9.
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."--Carl Sagan

PPI Brian

Yesterday SDO captured images of an interesting prominence on the sun:

http://www.youtube.com/v/g7nK6DP2qzg
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."--Carl Sagan