NASA cameras had a front row view to an amazing scene in space, as solar flares erupted two sides of the sun at the same time..
NASA placed images of the solar eruption on its website with some context behind in. NASA wrote,
“This still (below) from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) caught the action in freeze-frame splendor when the Sun popped off two events at once on Jan. 28, 2011. A filament on the left side became unstable and erupted, while an M-1 flare (mid-sized) and a Coronal Mass Ejection on the right blasted into space. The movie (above), taken Jan. 26-28, 2011, shows several other flashes and bursts from the active region on the right as well. Neither event is headed towards Earth”
Perhaps the last sentence in their press release is the most reassuring. Neither eruption is poised to strike the little blue planet..
At least not these eruptions.
Speculation has abounded for years that we are going to go into a period of dramatic solar activity–activity that could potentially hit a high point in 2012, according to experts that have been quoted in stories over the past several months.
These two flares, perhaps more than anything, are warning shots and messages of the sun’s power.
NASA also placed a six-second video on their website of the solar activity.
While the solar flares that were visible to the world didn’t sear the world, the images are seared into the memory of all who watch the sky and wonder, one day, if that massive ball of light will turn on the planet it warms..
