Sun Storm
November 16, 2009
NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft has spotted the first major activity of the new solar cycle. On May 5 STEREO-B observed a Type II radio burst and a bright, fast coronal mass ejection (CME) emanating from the far side of the sun. The activity originated in a solar active region that rotated into view from Earth on May 8.
A Type II radio burst is a discharge of radio waves that are emitted when shocks are accelerated by a CME—the sudden eruption of energy and solar material.
The active region appears well above the sun’s equator, at about 30 degrees latitude, which indicates it is part of the new solar cycle. Activity from the previous solar cycle would appear nearer to the sun’s equator. These regions also have a distinct magnetic organization characteristic of new cycle regions.
> HERE for details and movie clips
-Credit: SOHO/NASA
