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A spectacular solar outburst seen on film on the night of May 12-13 revealed a 600,000-mile-long filament bursting forth from the sun's northern hemisphere. The explosion happened about 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) and covered a distance more than twice that of Earth and the moon. A solar filament above the sun's surface burst, releasing a CME, plasma cloud, and magnetic energy. Although preliminary simulations indicate that Earth is not in the firing range of this blazing ejection, experts continue to closely monitor the phenomena.
Sun's 600,000-Mile-Long 'Angel-Wing' Eruption Surprises Skywatchers, Signals Rising Solar Activity
According to Space.com, the explosion erupted from a filament structure made up of dense, colder solar plasma kept aloft by magnetic forces. These formations frequently appear as black ribbons across the sun's disk and can become unstable unexpectedly. Solar watchers remarked that this new explosion eclipsed previous recent outbursts in both size and intensity. Jure Atanackov, an aurora chaser, said the CME from the outburst was one of the most brilliant he'd seen this year, albeit it's traveling north and will miss Earth.
Online observers named the occurrence the "angel-wing" or "bird-wing" eruption, and it was extensively circulated among sun watchers. Another aurora chaser, Vincent Ledvina, remarked on its remarkable visual impact, characterizing it as a spectacle worth seeing repeatedly. The eruption spans almost a million kilometers, making it both scientifically interesting and artistically appealing. Geomagnetic storms caused by this type of CME can harm satellites, communication infrastructure, and potentially Earth.
While this CME highlights our host star's erratic nature, it does not yet represent a threat to Earth. Solar activity is increasing as we near the top of Solar Cycle 25 in 2025. Furthermore, further, potentially dangerous solar explosions may occur.
The sun is a source of awe for both astronomers and skywatchers, serving as a reminder of the powerful and delicate forces at work in our solar system.
