Imagine an explosion on the farside of the sun so powerful, we could feel it here on Earth. It happened on July 13th. The debris emerged in a circular cloud known as a ‘halo CME’:
When space weather forecasters first saw this explosion, there was a moment of excitement. It appeared to be heading directly toward Earth. However, data from NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft indicated otherwise. In fact, the CME was heading directly away from us–a farside event.
Now for the interesting part: Although the explosion occured on the farside of the sun, it still peppered Earth with high-energy particles. The Energetic and Relativistic Nuclei and Electron (ERNE) detector onboard SOHO recorded a surge in hard radiation not long after the CME appeared:
How did this radiation reach our planet?
Rami Vainio, a professor of space physics at the University of Turku (Finland), who works with ERNE data says “it’s not possible to answer that question definitely without a detailed analysis involving multiple spacecraft.”
However, she speculates that the lift-off of the CME may have created a global shock wave on the farside of the sun. Particles spilling over the edge might have spiraled toward our planet.
Of particular interest are the green data points in the plot above. These are the most energetic protons ERNE can detect. An uptick in green after the CME indicates unusually “hard” radiation – the kind produced in the leading edge of of a hard-charging CME.
The source of the blast might have been the same sunspot (AR2838) that produced the first X-flare of Solar Cycle 25 on July 3rd. That sunspot is currently transiting the farside of the sun approximately where the CME came from. Within the next week AR2838 is expected to return – and then, maybe, the real fun begins. [Space Weather]
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You should really subscribe to QFiles. You will get very interesting information about strange events around the world.
If this happens when it comes to face Earth than learn to cook/heat/lite by Wood!
Well, if it were on the near side, then it would have been pretty horrible. Our world is polluted by evil people. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if we are headed for more catastrophic events. Say your prayers.