24th June 2013

Sun emits huge coronal mass ejection

On 20th June at 23:24 EDT, the Sun erupted with an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME), a phenomenon that sends billions of tons of particles into space that can reach Earth one to three days later. This event was captured in the photo below from NASA.

These particles cannot travel through our atmosphere to harm humans, but they can disrupt electronic systems in satellites and on the ground. Experimental NASA research models – based on observations from NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory and ESA/NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory – show that the CME left the Sun at speeds of around 1350 miles per second, which is a fast speed for CMEs.

Earth-directed CMEs can cause a "space weather" phenomenon called a geomagnetic storm, occurring when they funnel energy into Earth's magnetic envelope, the magnetosphere, for an extended period of time. The CME's magnetic fields peel back the outermost layers of Earth's fields changing their very shape. Magnetic storms can degrade communication signals and cause unexpected electrical surges in power grids. They also can cause aurora. Storms are rare during solar minimum, but as the Sun's activity ramps up every 11 years toward solar maximum – currently expected in late 2013 – large storms occur several times per year.

In addition, the CME may pass by spacecraft including MESSENGER (currently orbiting Mercury), STEREO B and Spitzer. Operators can put these into a safe mode if warranted, to protect the instruments from solar material.



Credit: NASA/SDO

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