Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Solar Filament Erupts [Wow!]

NASA ^ | September 17, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: What's happened to our Sun? Nothing very unusual -- it just threw a filament. At the end of last month, a long standing solar filament suddenly erupted into space producing an energetic Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). The filament had been held up for days by the Sun's ever changing magnetic field and the timing of the eruption was unexpected. Watched closely by the Sun-orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory, the resulting explosion shot electrons and ions into the Solar System, some of which arrived at Earth three days later and impacted Earth's magnetosphere, causing visible aurorae. Loops of plasma surrounding an active region can be seen above the erupting filament in the ultraviolet image. If you missed this auroral display please do not despair -- over the next two years our Sun will be experiencing a solar maximum of activity which promises to produce more CMEs that induce more Earthly auroras.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: NASA's GSFC, SDO AIA Team]

[SunkenCiv]

Here’s the image link, for me, when I get home:

http://129.164.179.22/apod/image/1209/filament_sdo_960.jpg

And, uh, wow, here’s a link to the bigger version:

http://129.164.179.22/apod/image/1209/filament_sdo_1920.jpg

[cripplecreek]

Now that’s a fire!

[blueunicorn6]

Cool.....just.....cool.

[EGPWS]

That evil nuclear energy!

Is there any way we can save the planet from this?

Cool pic!

[COBOL2Java]

That reminds me, I need to get more tabasco sauce.

[P.O.E.]

I thought my late summer tan was looking especially crispy lately. Now I know why :)

Cool pics, thanks

[knarf]

There's just no words for that.

Maybe unbelievable, but ... there it is .. it MUST be believed.

I honestly heard the words in my mind when I first saw the 'finger' ..

".. and touched the face of God"

[knife6375]

Check the youtube movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9yAU-3ZQCc&feature=related

[NCC-1701]

“...Cool.....just.....cool....”

You’d think differently if that thing hit you.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

[SunkenCiv]

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[left that other site]

THAT Makes My Day!(so to speak!)

That’s one of the best pictures yet...and SO CLOSE to home!

Thank you for your daily pictures!

[onyx]

Wickedly beautiful!

[TheOldLady]

The Sun: “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”

[colorado tanker]

That’s really cool, Civ. Thanks!