When The Sun Erupts

By

Word Count

201 words

Reading Level

Listen to Article

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

Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
62 Comments
  • mumover 8 years
    cool
    • shivi483
      shivi483over 8 years
      But how it is the hottest planet ever to be found how can that be they must do something.
      • staudtl
        staudtlabout 9 years
        the sun is a very hot planet to touch.
        • landon-03about 9 years
          i would hate if this happened again because i dont want to die young
          • yolopuppy55
            yolopuppy55about 9 years
            Wow im glad thats not gonna happen to me! Poor future people. :(
            • smithkar004
              smithkar004over 9 years
              Einstein would love this
              • lunamoonamare
                lunamoonamareover 9 years
                I heard it's getting bigger.
              • Scienceover 9 years
                Hope the doesn't erupt soon
                • catylizard
                  catylizardover 9 years
                  wont erupt soon will be over a million years we will all be dead by than you are not good at science science cange your name!
                • skylaover 9 years
                  i like the video topengun
                  • Sciencealmost 10 years
                    Soon the world will end... when the sun erupts completely. By then, the world and civilization will be on another planet...