                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2024 May 15
   Part of the Sun is pictured, oriented as the right edge. The surface is
    textured like a carpet. Over the edge a long multi-pronged prominence
     stands out. Behind the Sun is the darkness of space. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                          AR 3664 at the Sun's Edge
                 Image Credit & Copyright: Sebastian Voltmer

   Explanation: What did the monster active region that created the recent
   auroras look like when at the Sun's edge? There, AR 3664 better showed
   its 3D structure. Pictured, a large multi-pronged solar prominence was
   captured extending from chaotic sunspot region AR 3664 out into space,
   just one example of the particle clouds ejected from this violent solar
   region. The Earth could easily fit under this long-extended prominence.
   The featured image was captured two days ago from this constantly
   changing region. Yesterday, the strongest solar flare in years was
   expelled (not shown), a blast classified in the upper X-class.
   Ultraviolet light from that flare quickly hit the Earth's atmosphere
   and caused shortwave radio blackouts across both North and South
   America. Although now rotated to be facing slightly away from the
   Earth, particles from AR 3664 and subsequent coronal mass ejections
   (CMEs) might still follow curved magnetic field lines across the inner
   Solar System and create more Earthly auroras.

             Gallery: Earth Aurora from Solar Active Region 6443
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

