Listen to Story Argentine astronomer Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau recently captured one of the largest solar prominences observed in years. The event, which unfolded as Poupeau was photographing the sun, showcased the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the star in our Solar System. The prominence, described by Poupea u as a "serpent of fire," extended an astonishing 380,000 kilometers into space - a distance greater than that between Earth and the Moon.
"This solar phenomenon was truly spectacular," Poupeau remarked, expressing his amazement at the magnitude and beauty of the event. As the massive plasma fountain continued to grow, it eventually triggered a coronal mass ejection (CME), hurling a significant amount of solar material into space. The 'serpent of fire' prominence on its way out of the sun's atmosphere.
(Photo: Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau) While this particular CME is not expected to impact Earth directly, it is projected to strike Mercury on July 18th. Recent research suggests that this collision may ignite X-ray auroras at ground level on Mercury's rocky surface, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to study the interactions between solar activity and planetary bodies. Meanwhile, Earth is not entirely out of the solar spotlight.
Two, possibly three, faint CMEs are currently en route to our planet following a series of eruptions from sunspots AR3743, AR3753, and AR3744 on July 16-17. These solar events are anticipated to collectively impact Earth on July 20.
