NOAA's GOES-19 spacecraft has captured a spectacular solar phenomenon — a massive eruption of a so-called "filament" from the surface of the Sun, Space.com reports, citing the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
As the Space Weather Prediction Center explained, such filaments are denser, colder ribbons of plasma held above the Sun's surface by magnetic fields. When the structure loses stability, it can erupt violently into space, causing so-called coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — powerful streams of charged particles and magnetic fields.
This time, the eruption poses no threat to Earth — it was directed away from the planet. However, according to space weather forecaster Sarah Gaussil, it shows that the Sun is still active and has the potential to affect space weather.
The unique image was obtained using the Solar Ultraviolet Imager telescope mounted on the GOES-19 satellite. The observation was made in the extreme ultraviolet range between 06:30 and 09:50 Eastern Time on May 7.
Although the current eruption will not affect Earth, experts continue to closely monitor solar activity. According to the UK Met Office, residual effects from previous emissions and high-energy solar wind could cause auroras at high latitudes.
Solar activity is on the rise, and such phenomena are not uncommon as the 11-year solar cycle approaches its maximum.
