By now, you’ve probably heard that the sun is getting more volatile.
A huge coronal mass ejection erupted from the sun’s surface Monday — the latest in a worrisome series of eruptions to jettison plasma out into space.
The eruption was classified as a medium-sized event, but this it appeared more striking than usual.
A beautiful prominence eruption producing a coronal mass ejection (CME) shot off the east limb (left side) of the sun on April 16, 2012. Such eruptions are often associated with solar flares, and in this case an M1 class (medium-sized) flare occurred at the same time, peaking at 1:45 PM EDT. The CME was not aimed toward Earth.
Medium-sized or not, the flare-up was a sight to see. Here’s the video, via NASA.
Since the ejection wasn’t aimed at Earth, technological interference on this planet isn’t a big concern. But the LA Times reports spacecraft were in its path, including the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Astrophysicist Alex Young told the Times that’s no big deal. The spacecraft are made to handle solar radiation, and scientists might learn something from the event.
“We hope to travel to Mars … eventually with manned missions, so it’s critical we understand the radiation environment,” he told the Times.
Here are some other recent solar storms to feast your eyes on.