Colossal tornado on the Sun

Over the past week, a giant thread of superheated plasma has been rising above the Sun, which eventually fell on its surface, forming a giant tornado 14 times the size of the Earth. In addition, six spots and two coronal holes can now be observed on our luminaire.

A fiery tornado in the Sun. Source: NASA/SDO/composite by Steve Spaleta

Fiery tornado in the Sun

Over the past week, astronomy enthusiasts have been able to watch a giant strand of plasma — a prominence — rise above the sun. It unfolded in space for three days, turning into a colossal tornado with a height of 14 diameters of the earth, before it fell on the surface of the sun on Saturday, March 18.

In the fall, it broke up into drops the size of the Moon each, and the result of this cataclysm was the release of a considerable amount of matter. However, it will not reach the Earth’s surface and will not be able to cause a serious magnetic storm.

All this could be observed on Saturday by all astronomy lovers who haв a telescope with a light filter aimed at the North Pole of the sun. After all, it was a truly amazing sight.

Other activity in the Sun

Despite the fact that the current activity of our luminary is characterized by scientists observing it as “average”, however, a giant tornado is not the only thing that has distinguished our luminary over the past few days.

There are 6 large spots on it at once — relatively cold areas where the curvature of the magnetic field lines is observed. Their possible rupture and reconnection can cause a truly catastrophic solar flare. 

In addition, there are two coronal holes on the sun at once. A particularly strong solar wind blows through them. And all this happens on the days of the vernal equinox, when the axis of the magnetic field of our planet is perpendicular to the direction of the solar wind and the danger of magnetic storms increases dramatically.

According to www.space.com

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