Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejection(June 24, 2011)
Hi-res TIF image (1.0M)
The Sun erupted with a modest (C-7) flare and coronal mass ejection (June 21, 2011) that was aimed pretty much right towards Earth. In these composite images and movies, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) observed the burst and ensuing coronal loops (that look like an uncoiling Slinky) in extreme ultraviolet light. SOHO's C2 coronagraph captured the expanding particle cloud that expanded in all directions like a faint halo around the Sun. The movie shows about 12 hours of activity. Estimates predicted that the particle cloud might mildly impact Earth a few days later, which could perhaps generate some nice aurora at higher latitudes.
SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.
If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.
