When The Sun Erupts

Posted by Editor on 10/14/2009

North America's, National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA) today released rare footage of Solar Prominences  - large glowing clouds of gas erupting from the Sun's surface.

The spectacular images of the eruptions that occured over a 30-hour period on September 26th and 27th, were captured by the twin STEREO (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) spacecraft, imaginatively dubbed Ahead and Behind, based on their positions in Space. The spacecraft were launched in 2006 to provide NASA with a three dimensional view of the Sun.

Solar Prominences are huge arcs of gas that erupt from the surface of the Sun. They occur because of the solar activity cycle. As is well-known, the sun is a huge magnetic ball of gas, held in place by a magnetic field. As the sun rotates, the heat in its interior, churns the cooler, subsurface gas layer creating giant gas bubbles.

Ever so often, the bubbles breach the surface of the sun and break out. When they reach 30,000 miles above the surface of the Sun - like this one did, they release huge amounts of material, at speeds of up to 2,160,000 mph, before dissipating - and appear as though the Sun is erupting!

sources: englishcctv.com, Solar Prominence ,telegraph.com.uk

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  1. penguin about 1 hour later:
    erupting sun awesome thatsure is a very very hot topic.
  2. penguin about 1 hour later:
    go sun it is your birthday. ooo. ooo
  3. black power 3 days later:
    i hope its not that severe but its TOTALLY awesome
  4. We'recoolblackgirlsarejealous 3 days later:
    wow..
  5. I Love Glen =] 3 days later:
    Nice info :D
  6. purple62599 4 days later:
    Is this a pancake pr what
  7. marzyram 5 days later:
    this is wicked cool who thought of such a brilliant idea ROCK ON!!
  8. marzyram 5 days later:
    i cant belive the sun is that cool chickenbopeep will be so happy when i tell her:)
  9. marzyram 5 days later:
    i fell like being a space guy and go and see the sun fefifo the sun is aweaome
  10. marzyram 5 days later:
    this is so helping me with my extra credit so omg now i can stay on the track team ya!:)
  11. g;luger 5 days later:
    this rocks
  12. Ashley 8 days later:
    You all are so, so, so GAY!!!
  13. SUPERSTAR1 8 days later:
    WOW THAT IS WEIRD OK
  14. stiles 12 days later:
    wow really
  15. stiles 12 days later:
    i wanna see the sun erupt
  16. chickenbopeep 13 days later:
    this is cool when it erupts i wanna see
  17. flash 13 days later:
    Hey when my friends and i saw this we were flabergasted Im a nerd
  18. duck 13 days later:
    its cool how they found that out normaly i dont like science but noe i do
  19. phuc anh 17 days later:
    that could be dangerous!
  20. killerstock 17 days later:
    Oh wow. -.- Boring. can this get anymore boring.
  21. green day 21 days later:
    wow if the sun erupts, then thats bad for us...
  22. peace 22 days later:
    ooooooo nnnnnnnnoooooooo erupt were doomed
  23. ryan hugihtt 26 days later:
    ok.....
  24. courtney 27 days later:
    while thats cool
  25. liol about 1 month later:
    colioawesomeness
  26. lenaloop is awsome about 1 month later:
    i havent read it yet but IT TOTALLY LOOKS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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