14 DAY TRIAL // The twin components of the NASA Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) mission were recently able to detect one of the fastest and largest solar eruptions in recent history. On August 1, the Sun released a massive amount of matter and radiation, which sped away from the star at a whooping 2.2 million miles per hour. Despite this massive speed, the two spacecrafts were able to detect the event, and send their conclusions back to Earth, where researchers confirmed the discovery.
The large solar flare triggered a massive eruption called a coronal mass ejection (CME). This is one of the most dangerous things that can go on in the star, experts say. CME produce massive amounts of highly-energetic particles, which have the effect of a heavy bombardment on Earth's protective layer, the magnetosphere. The entire force of the ejection was unleashed on our planet on Tuesday, August 3, and the main result was a heavy intensification of the northern lights, the Aurora Borealis. We got off easy this time, solar physicists say, as larger CME can have devastating effects on our infrastructure.
Representatives of the American space agency said in a recent statement that “these kinds of eruptions are one of the first signs that the Sun is waking up and heading toward another solar maximum expected in the 2013 time frame.” The star functions in 11-year-old cycles, each of which contains a solar maximum and a minimum. These periods are named according to the amount of solar activity (sunspots, solar flares, CME) that takes place on the Sun's surface. Over the past two years, the star should have exited the minimum stage, and begin resuming its activity. But the minimum persisted, and it's only now that the Sun is beginning to show signs of recovery.
STEREO is in a unique position to conduct very accurate observations of the solar surface, given that its twin spacecrafts allow for it to look at the Sun in 3D. This allows solar physicists to get a depth-of-view in their studies, that is impossible with any other telescope. Not even the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO), the most advanced Sun-watching instrument, can produce 3D views of its targets. STEREO is capable of doing this because its components fly apart from each other, providing independent views of the same event from two vantage points, Space reports.