PARIS — The European Space Agency (ESA) discovered something big about the Sun. Their Solar Orbiter recently saw a powerful solar flare. A “magnetic avalanche” caused this massive event.
JK News reports that small magnetic changes start this process. These tiny shifts grow into a huge energy burst very quickly. This cascade heats solar plasma and sends particles into space.
Capturing the Sun in High Detail
The event happened on September 30, 2024. The spacecraft stayed only 27 million miles away. Its Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) took very clear photos.
According to JK News, the EUI saw very small details. It watched twisted magnetic strands break and reform. These bright flashes started the big magnetic avalanche.
Understanding Magnetic Reconnection
Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy. They happen when magnetic fields break and reform. This process is called magnetic reconnection.
Solar plasma reaches millions of degrees during this time. Particles fly away at very high speeds. You can imagine a rubber band snapping suddenly.
The Effects on Our Planet
Big flares can create coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These are huge clouds of solar plasma. They can hit Earth and cause geomagnetic storms.
JK News notes that these storms can affect satellites. They can also disrupt power systems on the ground. However, they create beautiful lights called auroras. This new study helps us predict space weather better.
