Click here to view an image showing the size of this CME compared to the size of Earth: bit.ly/RkYr7z
On August 31, 2012 a long filament of solar material that had been hovering in the sun's atmosphere, the corona, erupted out into space at 4:36 p.m. EDT. The coronal mass ejection, or CME, traveled at over 900 miles per second. The CME did not travel directly toward Earth, but did connect with Earth's magnetic environment, or magnetosphere, causing aurora to appear on the night of Monday, September 3.
Pictured here is a lighten blended version of the 304 and 171 angstrom wavelengths. Cropped
Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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badlydrawnboy22, Marcus T Ward, and 507 other people added this photo to their favorites.
![Magnificent CME Erupts on the Sun - August 31 [video]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7931868316_b6a6ab3369_s.jpg)
View 6 more comments
Trudy LeDoux 10 months ago | reply
Wow, these images are magnificent!
ricewine@ymail.com 10 months ago | reply
real red...
Drace30 10 months ago | reply
Not end of the world.. END OF THE UNGODLY!!
ar'Ondite Fotografia [deleted] 10 months ago | reply
This has to be the most incredible image i've ever seen. Awestruck and speachless!
hypnogingey73 10 months ago | reply
Stunning picture. Just for scale, how big would the earth be in comparison to that explosion? Anyone know?
hypnogingey73 10 months ago | reply
Got my answer i.imgur.com/JDz1w.jpg Wowsers!
█ fo112 █ 10 months ago | reply
Nice!
Jonathan O'Donnell 10 months ago | reply
I love the fact that nature gives us better images than science fiction ever could. This is a classic example.
BlueisCoool 10 months ago | reply
Very nice capture - congrats!
人造人間，意慾蔓延 10 months ago | reply
太壮观了！
MirrorScope 9 months ago | reply
Holy smoke! Makes you wonder if the sun could have ejected the planets!
breedingfra 9 months ago | reply
Massive!
politicalseason 9 months ago | reply
The Creator's handiwork is awesome.
kiwizone 9 months ago | reply
Outstandingly beautiful filament eruption. The movie is a "must see":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI44kE1j6nI
marinela 2008 9 months ago | reply
Spectacular !
Earthling2005 9 months ago | reply
Out of curiosity, Would it be very noisy in the sun?
zeus2017 9 months ago | reply
É a nossa estrela em atividade.
cyriac.s.pampackal 9 months ago | reply
Wow,magnificient
tbransco 4 months ago | reply
The sun might be middle-aged, but it never gets old. Stupefying image.
boricuataino52 3 weeks ago | reply
!!!!!! Bravo !!!!! Our Creator's Masterpeace