Article Posted on : - Jun 08, 2011

Coronal Mass Ejection as viewed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory on June 7, 2011. A NASA photo

WASHINGTON (BNS): A massive solar flare erupted in the Sun has created spectacular coronal ejection and a minor radiation that have spewed a large cloud of high-energy particles.

The M-2 (medium-sized) solar flare, an S1-class (minor) radiation storm and a spectacular coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft from sunspot complex 1226-1227 on June 7.

The large cloud of particles mushroomed up and fell back down looking as if it covered an area of almost half the solar surface, NASA said.

The solar storm reached its peak at 0541 GMT. The SDO captured the images in extreme ultraviolet light, showing a very large eruption of cool gas.

It is somewhat unique because at many places in the eruption there seems to be even cooler material – at temperatures less than 80,000 K, the space agency said.

The coronal mass ejection is heading towards Earth at 1400 km/s according to NASA models.

The flare, however, does not pose any threat to Earth and the satellites or other infrastructure.

It may lead to a strong geomagnetic storm during the late hours of June 8th or June 9th, creating magnificent auroras on Earth, NASA said.