2.4.08

"TsunAMI"

Astronomers have captured the first
footage of a solar "tsunami" hurtling through the Sun's atmosphere at over a
million kilometres per hour.



[...]


Details were reported at the UK National
Astronomy Meeting in Belfast.
In half an hour, we saw the tsunami cover
almost the full disc of the Sun





In a solar tsunami, a huge explosion near the Sun, such as a coronal mass
ejection or flare, causes a pressure pulse to propagate outwards in a circular
pattern. [...]for about 35 minutes, reaching peak speeds about 20 minutes after
the initial blast.

[...]"The energy released in these explosions is phenomenal;
about two billion times the annual world energy consumption in just a fraction
of a second.

[...]
"In half an hour, we saw the tsunami cover almost the full disc of the Sun,
nearly a million kilometres away from the epicentre."



Photos and excerpts from original article.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It occurred to me while reading your blog that you may very much enjoy listening to and learning about BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE, on the odd chance you haven't done so already. She is a true hero and someone for whom words cannot express my admiration.

Amelopsis said...

Buffy's a fine Canadian with whom I've been familiar since childhood; an admirable woman indeed.