Comet strikes the sun!

[Pug]

Discovered on Sept. 29th by a group of four independent comet hunters (M. Kusiak, S. Liwo, B. Zhou and Z. Xu), the icy visitor from the outer solar system evaporated furiously as it approached the sun. SOHO (the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) monitored the death plunge in the image below:




And if that weren't enough, yesterday, October 4th, something exploded on the far side of the sun and propelled a spectacular CME into space. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded the cloud as it emerged from behind the sun:

[RHenriksen]

Amazing, thanks!

[The Annoyed Man]

Very Cool!

[Target1911]

Is this going to impact our weather at all?

[Pug]

Space Weather (http://www.spaceweather.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) generally just tracks these events. It then links to the various federal and international watch websites. Thus far, no one is predicting anything unusual -- primarily due to the fact that the CME was sent toward deep space and away from the earth.

"Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab have combined observations from SOHO and the twin STEREO spacecraft to calculate the CME's trajectory: It is heading for Mercury. The CME will hit the innermost planet on Oct. 5th around 04:30 UT plus minus 7 hours. Energetic particles accelerated by shock waves at the leading edge of the cloud could also have minor effects on the MESSENGER probe in orbit around Mercury. The CME's forecast track shows that Venus might also receive a blow on Oct. 6th."

[Thomas]

Is this going to impact our weather at all?

Only if the CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) is directed towards Earth. If it did electronics are going to be affected substantially compared to the weather.

[Pug]

The SOHO movie library (downloadable movies) has a great image that you can fast forward and reverse to actually watch the CME launch: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/pickofth ... metCME.mov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tbrown]

Boom
Headshot

[AEA]

Oh no....now Obama will want to spend more money to save the Sun!

[Rex B]

We went through the Mcdonald Observatory tour last week. A big part of it was about the sun. Excellent tour, most interesting and knowledgeable spokesperson in recent memory.
If you are in that area, take the time to visit and take the tour. I only regret it was cloudy so we had to miss the star party that night.

[Commander Cody]

Obama will probably say that Bush, Gore and Lex Luthor caused it!

[RPB]

But Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Cupid, Donner (or Donder) and Blitzen are all OK right?.

Poor Comet

[JJVP]

Oh no....now Obama will want to spend more money to save the Sun!

That comet was launched by Bush. Is all Bush's fault.

[sjfcontrol]

Oh no....now Obama will want to spend more money to save the Sun!

That comet was launched by Bush. Is all Bush's fault.

Nope. Caused by man-Made global warming!

[terryg]

But Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Cupid, Donner (or Donder) and Blitzen are all OK right?.

Poor Comet