Massive eruption detected escaping from the Sun; spacecraft feel the impact

 

Gif Credit: NASA/ESA/SOHO

A massive coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun at 11:36 p.m. EDT on March 12, 2023. The impact of this powerful solar eruption on the far side of the Sun was felt by Earth-orbiting spacecraft.

According to NASA's Moon to Mars Space Weather Office, the CME travelled at an unusually fast speed of 2,127 kilometres (1,321 miles) per second, earning it a speed-based classification of a R (rare) type CME.

That was a big one! Late Sunday, a huge coronal mass ejection erupted from the Sun. Even though it was on the far side of the Sun, the blast was powerful enough that Earth-orbiting spacecraft felt its effects early Monday morning. Learn more: https://t.co/1Vi1B4Kmlo pic.twitter.com/ANc3sgfJpv

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) March 14, 2023

While scientists are still collecting data to determine the source of the eruption, it is currently believed that the powerful eruption came from the former active region AR3234.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, which is currently nearing its 15th closest approach of the Sun, was likely hit by the CME head-on. Researchers are awaiting the next data download from the spacecraft to learn more about this CME event and any potential impacts.

The agency noted that spacecraft orbiting Earth detected solar energetic particles (SEPs) from the eruption starting at midnight on March 12. These particles are fast enough to make the 93-million-mile journey from the Sun to Earth in around 30 minutes. They are commonly observed after Earth-facing solar eruptions, they are less common for eruptions on the far side of the Sun, according to NASA.

"Even though the CME erupted from the opposite side of the Sun, its impacts were felt at Earth. As CMEs blast through space, they create a shockwave that can accelerate particles along the CME's path to incredible speeds, much the way surfers are pushed along by an incoming ocean wave," the agency wrote in a blog post.