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Mystery Gas Keeps Heading For Sun
Ananova ^ | 11-21-2001

Posted on 11/21/2001 7:13:08 AM PST by blam

Mystery gas keeps heading for Sun

A space probe has spotted mysterious clouds of gas falling towards the surface of the Sun.

The gas battles forward despite facing a solar wind which reaches speeds of 74 miles per second.

Astronomers believe the clouds are pulled towards the Sun by changes in its magnetic field.

The inflows can start at altitudes of up to 1.7 million miles from the surface and the latest pictures have surprised scientists.

Bernhard Fleck, the European Space Agency's project scientist for the Soho probe mission, says: "I was stunned when I saw the first movies showing these inflows.

"Before this discovery by Soho no one had any idea that gas could travel the wrong way, and be pushed back towards the Sun."

The images were processed by Neil Sheeley and Yi-Ming Wang at the US naval research laboratory.

If they are right, and the pictures show collapsing magnetic loops, pulling material against the solar wind, they will confirm that the Sun recycles the magnetic field in its atmosphere.

Story filed: 11:00 Wednesday 21st November 2001


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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Another day, another mystery.
1 posted on 11/21/2001 7:13:08 AM PST by blam
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To: RightWhale; RadioAstronomer
FYI.
2 posted on 11/21/2001 7:14:41 AM PST by blam
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To: blam
This thread is going south but quick.
3 posted on 11/21/2001 7:16:43 AM PST by AppyPappy
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To: blam
I'm sorry. That was me.
4 posted on 11/21/2001 7:18:17 AM PST by dead
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To: blam
kirk and spock should investigate.
5 posted on 11/21/2001 7:18:44 AM PST by isom35
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To: blam
Wow, I'm real sorry about releasing that cloud of 'mystery gas'.

I shouldn't have washed that anchovie, jalepeno and garlic pizza down with two pitchers of beer, but the jalepenos were real hot. I guess it's no mystery what happened next...

I mean, I'm glad that not everybody on the earth heard it, but I hope nothing bad happens when it hits the sun...

6 posted on 11/21/2001 7:20:09 AM PST by Cogadh na Sith
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To: AppyPappy
"This thread is going south but quick."

It's already gotten more attention than I thought it would. (I hadn't considered that the title had 'other' meanings.)

7 posted on 11/21/2001 7:21:13 AM PST by blam
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To: chookter
Oh man, you beat me to the punch. Good one, though!
8 posted on 11/21/2001 7:21:44 AM PST by Skywalk
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To: dead
You beat me by two minutes, but mine was funnier.

Maybe the mystery gas is from Uranus instead of Myanus?

9 posted on 11/21/2001 7:21:50 AM PST by Cogadh na Sith
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To: blam
Probably not "changes in the magentic field" but via
the force caused by mu*H^2 (the equivalent of dielectrophoretic force).
10 posted on 11/21/2001 7:22:13 AM PST by Diogenesis
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To: blam
Like they say, gravity sucks!
11 posted on 11/21/2001 7:22:39 AM PST by Robert357
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To: blam

Foolish Humans! Soon our anti-solar gas will have destroyed the sun and the Earth will be ours!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12 posted on 11/21/2001 7:22:51 AM PST by aomagrat
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To: blam
BRRRAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPP....



'scuse me, folks...
13 posted on 11/21/2001 7:23:58 AM PST by general_re
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To: general_re
OK, you win!
14 posted on 11/21/2001 7:24:28 AM PST by Cogadh na Sith
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To: blam
Did the gas cloud originate from Uranus?
15 posted on 11/21/2001 7:25:58 AM PST by wattsmag2
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To: blam
Neat!
16 posted on 11/21/2001 7:26:04 AM PST by Aggie Mama
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To: wattsmag2
Oh brother.
17 posted on 11/21/2001 7:27:09 AM PST by oldvike
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To: chookter
the jalepenos were real hot.

Jalepenos are mild. Get some Habenaro or Thai bird peppers next time.

18 posted on 11/21/2001 7:27:33 AM PST by ASA Vet
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To: general_re
ROFL!!!
19 posted on 11/21/2001 7:27:52 AM PST by Brett66
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To: blam
All your gas cloud are belong to us. Stop you try to claim themselves for you.
20 posted on 11/21/2001 7:27:59 AM PST by LurkedLongEnough
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