Sun just unleashed a 10,00,000-km-long mega eruption. Will Earth be hit?
In what could only be described as a fiery burp, the Sun unleashed a mega explosion from its northern hemisphere hurtling millions of tons of solar material into space.The solar filament caught by aurora chaser Vincent Ledvina, stretches over a million kilometres in length as it begins its journey away from the Sun.A solar filament is a large, elongated structure of cool, dense plasma suspended above the Sun's surface by magnetic fields. Despite being cooler than the surrounding solar atmosphere (the corona), it still emits light but appears dark when viewed against the bright background of the Sun. advertisement
Solar filaments form along areas where the Sun's magnetic field is particularly complex.Sharing the video on X, Vincent Ledvina wrote "Not sure what to call this eruption, maybe the "bird-wing" or "angel-wing" event? Either way, it is truly something to witness!"After weeks of relative quiet, the Sun has sprung back to life, unleashing two powerful solar flares from opposite hemispheres.The first, an X1.2-class flare, erupted with force, causing a brief shortwave radio blackout over the Americas and launching a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. According to NASA models, the CME is expected to strike Mercury, graze Venus, and miss Earth entirely later this week.What a spectacular CME from the huge filament eruption earlier today! Unfortunately it is directed north and will miss us. A direct hit from a CME like this can be high-end G4 storm material, maybe even G5. https://t.co/StNvwdYyqp pic.twitter.com/nFHPc5F8ap— Jure Atanackov (@JAtanackov) May 13, 2025advertisementThe second flare, rated M5.3, triggered a longer radio blackout across Southeast Asia and likely released a CME as well. If confirmed, this one may contain an Earth-directed component, but scientists await updated imagery from SOHO coronagraphs to verify its trajectory.The explosion comes over a year after the most severe geomagnetic storm in two decades struck Earth and triggered cascading effects on Earth's infrastructure.The thermosphere, Earth's upper atmospheric layer was heated to a record 1,150C from the storm, causing it to expand and loft heavy nitrogen particles higher.The storm generated the largest electrical currents in Earth's magnetosphere in 20 years, which were observed by Nasa's MMS and THEMIS-ARTEMIS missions.
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Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
X-Class solar flare triggers radio blackout across the US. See map
A powerful X-class solar flare from the Sun disrupted radio communications across large parts of the Pacific and the United States on Thursday, June 19, stated a Newsweek report. Captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the flare was recorded at 11:50 pm UTC. Classified as an X1.9 solar flare, the blast ranked among the most extreme solar phenomena. An extreme solar flare caused radio signal blackouts across the United States. See map The intense ultraviolet radiation from the flare caused a shortwave radio blackout affecting frequencies below 25 Megahertz (MHz). The blackout was most noticeable across the Pacific Ocean, with amateur radio operators in Hawaii and coastal areas particularly impacted. Map shows radio signal blackout caused by X-class solar flare(NOAA) Solar flare follows earlier June 15 event Solar flares are violent bursts of energy on the Sun's surface, capable of releasing as much power as a billion hydrogen bombs, NASA stated. Flares are rated by intensity with X-class representing the highest category. These can trigger planet-wide communication disruptions and long-lasting radiation storms. The Newsweek report stated that the X1.9 event followed an earlier M-class flare on June 15, which temporarily knocked out radio signals across North America at lower frequencies. Unlike the previous M8.3 flare, the one recorded on Thursday did not eject a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), a massive plasma and magnetic burst, into space. However, scientists at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center warned that the explosion likely destabilized a large magnetic filament in the Sun's southern hemisphere. Also read: NASA astronauts make 'space sushi' aboard the ISS to cheer up sushi-craving crewmate Eruption may lead to rare aurora sightings at lower latitudes The filament is currently erupting and may trigger a CME, which could reach Earth in the coming days and spark geomagnetic storms. These storms could disrupt satellites and power grids, but also produce brilliant auroras, sometimes visible far beyond their usual polar range. NOAA explained that if a CME arrived at Earth, it could generate strong geomagnetic storms, leading to some of the brightest auroras extending toward lower latitudes. Last year, per the report, similar conditions led to sightings of the aurora borealis as far south as Japan. Auroras arise from charged particles from the Sun colliding with our atmosphere. This process causes atoms and molecules in the atmosphere to become excited; when these excited particles return to their lower energy states, they release this energy as visible light, creating the striking color associated with the northern lights. With solar activity on the rise in the peak of the current solar cycle, we will likely see more solar activity in the next several months. FAQs What caused the June 19 radio blackout? An X1.9-class solar flare from the Sun released intense ultraviolet radiation, disrupting shortwave radio signals, especially across the Pacific. Which areas were affected? The Pacific Ocean region, including parts of the United States and Hawaii, experienced signal disruptions on frequencies below 25 MHz. What is an X-class solar flare? X-class flares are the most intense category of solar flares, capable of causing global radio blackouts and radiation storms. Could this affect power grids or GPS? If a CME reaches Earth, it could cause geomagnetic storms that might impact satellites, GPS, and even power infrastructure.
Time of India
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- Time of India
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Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
5 most unique asteroid facts that one should know
When we think of space, usually planets, stars, or black holes steal the spotlight. But asteroids, which also form a crucial part, are as interesting and full of mysteries that are yet to be studied fully by science. In recent decades, missions like NASA's OSIRIS-REx and Japan's Hayabusa have brought back samples, helping us understand these space rocks better than ever. But despite all we've learned, there are still many surprising things about them that most people don't know. Here are five of the most unique and mind-blowing facts about asteroids The Tunguska event shows their destructive power On June 30, 1908, a massive explosion over Siberia flattened 2,000 square kilometers of forest, yet left no visible crater. Known as the Tunguska event, it's believed to have been caused by an asteroid or comet fragment exploding in the atmosphere. Had it struck a populated area, the devastation would have been catastrophic. This incident is one of the important reasons behind the founding of Asteroid Day. Representative Image Asteroids were once called planets When the first few asteroids, Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta, were discovered in the early 1800s, astronomers actually classified them as planets. They orbited the Sun just like the others, so the logic made sense at the time. But as more and more of these objects were found between Mars and Jupiter, it became clear they belonged to a unique category. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo By the mid-19th century, the term 'asteroid' became the norm. Interestingly, Ceres had some exceptional traits that is why it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Most asteroids live between two planets Today, over a million asteroids have been identified, and the majority of them orbit the Sun in the space between Mars and Jupiter. This region is known as the Main Asteroid Belt. However, asteroids aren't limited to just that area. Some travel near Earth, others remain at Jupiter's Lagrange points, and these asteroids are referred to as Trojan asteroids. A few asteroids even orbit closer to the Sun than Venus. Despite their small size, they're everywhere, and scientists are discovering more with new missions. They are not remains of a broken planet A popular myth suggests the asteroid belt was once a planet that broke apart. But in reality, the total mass of all asteroids in the belt is only about 4% of our Moon. That's not nearly enough to make up a planet. Instead, scientists believe these rocks are leftover building blocks from the early solar system. Due to the powerful gravity of Jupiter, these bits and pieces never formed into a full planet and have been drifting in space ever since. Some asteroids grow tails like comets While comets are known for their glowing tails, some asteroids in the Main Belt have been spotted doing the same. These strange 'active asteroids' occasionally release dust and gas, creating a comet-like appearance. Scientists think this may happen because they contain water ice, which evaporates when exposed to sunlight. In some cases, these could actually be ancient comets that have lost most of their icy material. Either way, they blur the line between two very different types of space objects.
