But it could also put on quite the show.
However, the flare took scientists by surprise given it appeared to emerge from an area with no sunspots, where solar flares and CMEs are usually triggered.
Solar flares are emissions of electromagnetic radiation caused when magnetic fields arc across the Sun’s surface and ‘snap’. While these travel at the speed of light, reaching the Earth in around eight minutes, CMEs – bubbles of magnetic plasma that burst from the surface – can take days.is currently looking for sunspots on the ‘back’ of the Sun before it rotates towards Earth, and earlier this week detected a huge sunspot on its way, but did not see the mystery explosion heading for Mars.
Instead it was first noted by Earth-orbiting satellites on August 26, but quickly determined not to be a risk to Earth – the strongest solar flares and CMEs can knock out radio communications. As the Sun approaches its most active phase these are becoming more frequent, with two such events over the summer.
But in recent days astronomers have realised Mars is directly in the path of the CME, potentially triggering proton auroras.Auroras, mesmerising colourful waves in the sky, occur when solar radiation clashes with the upper atmosphere, exciting particles which then release light energy. On Earth this happens in the thermosphere, between 100 and 200 kilometres in altitude, and nearest the poles where the planet’s magnetic field is weakest.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
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