Coronal Mass Ejections
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Small flare and coronal mass ejection
Solar Dynamics Observatory
The outer solar atmosphere, the corona, is structured by strong magnetic fields. Where these fields are closed, often above sunspot groups, the confined solar atmosphere can suddenly and violently release bubbles of gas and magnetic fields called coronal mass ejections. A large CME can contain a billion tons of matter that can be accelerated to several million miles per hour in a spectacular explosion. Solar material streams out through the interplanetary medium, impacting any planet or spacecraft in its path. CMEs are sometimes associated with flares but can occur independently.
The sun shot out a small coronal mass ejection that was also associated with a small flare (Jan. 22, 2018). The video, which covers about 5 hours, shows the burst of plasma as the magnetic loops break apart. Immediately the magnetic fields brighten intensely and begin to reorganize themselves in coils above the active region. The images were taken in a wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Image credit: SDO (NASA), AIA (LMSAL)
Text credit: NASA's Goddard Media Studio and JPL
See NASA's Goddard Media Studio and JPL for more information