Just recently, a solar flare released a huge plasma plume from the solar south pole. An astrophotographer was able to capture a remarkably detailed composite shot of the plume.
Massive Plasma Plume From Rare Solar Eruption Captured by Astrophotographer
The rare occurrence took place on February 17. Back then, a solar flare blasted from a sunspot close to the south pole of the Sun. This led to the release of a huge column of plasma or ionized gas that towered roughly 200,000 kilometers above the surface of the Sun, making it have a height equivalent to 15 times that of Earth's. Eventually, the plasma snapped from the Sun and hurtled as a massive cloud, or coronal mass ejection (CME), into space. Because of the flare's orientation, the CME was not directed towards Earth and other planets.
Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau, an astrophotographer, was able to take a notably detailed composite shot of the plasma plume before it broke away from the surface of the Sun. Poupeau shares that the column was so massive that he had to rotate the camera for the subject to fit into the frame.
The blast is another sign that the Sun is nearing its solar maximum phase, which is its phase of peak activity.
Extremely Rare Solar Blast
Solar eruptions hardly ever occur on the south pole of the Sun, making this event extremely rare. The majority of solar flares erupt from the sunspots that are on or that surround the equator of the Sun. These hardly happen close to the magnetic poles, as these poles are where the magnetic field of the Sun is at its strongest. Normally, this could suppress the formation of sunspots.
It is likely that the odd eruption was triggered by a polar crown filament (PCF), which is a magnetism loop that circles the magnetic poles of the Sun. The released plasma plume is called a polar crown prominence (PCP).
Such PCPs become more prevalent during the solar maximum, which is the phase of peak solar activity during the 11-year cycle of the Sun. During this stage, PCFs get smaller, similar to a tightening noose surrounding their own poles. As they constrict, they end up strangling magnetic fields nearby, increasing their likelihood of explosion.
Experts think that the solar maximum will start within the next few months, which is earlier than expected. As this phase nears, more and more odd phenomena may take place at the poles of the Sun. Sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs become more common during this phase.
Scientists are working hard to enhance capacities to predict solar cycle strength and durations, as this could vary from cycle to cycle. Such predictions could aid in forecasting space weather.
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