Breathtaking Image Displays Simultaneous Solar Tornado and Plasma Blast
A riveting photograph has been taken that displays a simultaneous occurrence of a massive solar tornado and a colossal plasma explosion on the sun's surface. Despite being unrelated events, these solar phenomena are both the product of disturbances in the sun's unseen magnetic field. Some plasma was formed into the shape of a tornado, while some was released in a massive explosion referred to as an eruptive prominence.
Solar Tornado and Eruptive Prominence Captured in One Shot
A scientist from Romania had the rare opportunity to capture both these solar events at the same time. According to him, large solar tornadoes are quite scarce and witnessing one occurring simultaneously with an eruptive prominence is an unprecedented event.
Observatories worldwide have been keeping an eye on the solar tornado on the sun's surface throughout the week. The first images started appearing at the beginning of the week. Solar tornadoes and terrestrial tornadoes have a similar appearance but share little else in common, especially when it comes to size.
The Immensity of Solar Tornadoes
The solar tornado in the photo stands approximately 80,000 miles high, which is about a tenth of the sun's diameter. To give an idea of its gargantuan size, consider this: Earth's width is approximately 7,926 miles, meaning this tornado is slightly taller than 10 Earths stacked atop each other. Typically, solar tornadoes range between 15,500 and 62,000 miles in height, making this one an exceptionally large specimen.
As for the eruptive prominence, it was estimated to be around 124,000 miles wide, similar in size to a gargantuan solar prominence observed in July, which was measured at over 100,000 miles across and was dubbed "The Beast".
Observing Solar Events
The scientist first spotted the solar tornado on a website that keeps track of solar activity in almost real-time using several identical solar telescopes located in various countries around the globe. With the help of his wife, also a researcher, he aligned a telescope's field of view with the tornado, enabling him to capture images of the event. The eruptive prominence then appeared, allowing him to photograph both phenomena simultaneously.
The Nature of Solar Tornadoes
Unlike Earth's tornadoes, which are caused by intense winds and move around, solar tornadoes consist of ionized gas, or plasma, that stays put. They are officially named tornado prominences, with regular prominences also held in place by magnetic fields.
Prominences are attached to the visible surface of the sun, known as the photosphere, and extend into the star's outer atmosphere, or corona. An eruptive prominence takes place when the magnetic field holding the plasma becomes unstable and bursts outward. In many cases, the plasma released in a prominence then flies into space as a coronal mass ejection (CME). This type of solar storm can interact with Earth's magnetic field, producing auroras and potentially disrupting our satellites and communication systems.
The Aftermath of an Eruptive Prominence
The eruptive prominence in the photograph did release a CME, according to the scientist. However, it won't impact us, so we can expect no disruptions or aurora displays as a result. Due to other solar activity, Earth is currently experiencing solar winds, so auroras may be visible at high latitudes in the near future.
Solar Activity at its Peak
The sun is currently in the most active phase of its roughly 11-year solar cycle, known as the solar maximum. During this phase, the sun's magnetic field weakens and flips. Even with a small telescope safely equipped with a solar filter, there's a lot of solar activity to observe, making it the most dynamic spectacle in the sky for both amateurs and professionals alike.