4/15/2004: Solar prominence

Undertoad · 04-15-2004, 12:53 PM

A recent Astro pic of the day. This is our Sun, and that "thingie" coming off it like some cellophane wrapper is called a solar prominence.

Not to be confused with the Senior Promenade.

What happens is that the Sun lets out a big fart of solar gases, you see, but somehow the Sun's magnetic field keeps it close in, nearby, where it just sort of... lingers. For up to a month.

How big a fart: turns out the entire Earth could fit in that space between the Sun and the fart.

What happens next is that the fart is ejected out into space. It becomes "magnetically unstable", and is spat out like a giant balloon letting off. This process takes anywhere from tens of minutes to hours to complete. but when you consider that the whole fart is 300000 km (187000 miles) long, well, lets just say it's bookin'.

It's really pretty for a fart and that's why I picked it.

Cochese · 04-15-2004, 12:55 PM

Pictures of the sun are amazing. Almost looks like an artist's rendition, it's so clear.

MachineyBear · 04-15-2004, 12:56 PM

Finally I have something else to blame my farts on.

e unibus plurum · 04-15-2004, 01:37 PM

yikes -- I hate ones that burn at both ends!

tjennings · 04-15-2004, 02:13 PM

SBD - Shining, but deadly

Leah · 04-15-2004, 05:03 PM

Wow, now that's the kinda technical stuff I understand. Non of those scientific names. See TB told you you'd love this site.

Pearcie (AUS) · 04-15-2004, 06:11 PM

I'd like to give props to UT for the best 'scientific' explanation of anything, anywhere, ever.

Leah · 04-15-2004, 06:18 PM

Ditto

xoxoxoBruce · 04-15-2004, 06:39 PM

Undertoad = The new and improved, Mr Wizard.

lumberjim · 04-15-2004, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Undertoad = The new and improved, Mr Wizard.

yeah, but i think the fcc would have a problem with him saying "fart" 6 times in one segment.

ladysycamore · 04-15-2004, 07:15 PM

Quote:

"What happens is that the Sun lets out a big fart of solar gases, you see, but somehow the Sun's magnetic field keeps it close in, nearby, where it just sort of... lingers. For up to a month."

Yikes. Thank goodness it is kept close, or else we'd be space gas.

Elspode · 04-15-2004, 07:45 PM

Aren't we glad that *we* don't generate gigantic magnetic fields that contain our farts for tens of minutes to hours?

onetrack · 04-15-2004, 07:49 PM

That's one hot fart .. and here's me, thinking I've done some arse-burners at times ..

Next project for the good scientists, is to tell us EXACTLY, how hot that fart was .......

xoxoxoBruce · 04-15-2004, 09:31 PM

Quote:

The gas was relatively cool - only 60,000-80,000 Kelvin (110,000 - 145,000 degrees F) compared with the fiery 1.5 million degree K plasma (2.7 million F) surrounding it in the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.

You're welcome.

Archer · 04-15-2004, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elspode
Aren't we glad that *we* don't generate gigantic magnetic fields that contain our farts for tens of minutes to hours?

Um, well actually, I've had it happen once or twice. Melted my shorts right to my arse. Not to mention, my roommates were none to pleased . . . for several hours mind you.

04-15-2004, 12:53 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	4/15/2004: Solar prominence A recent Astro pic of the day. This is our Sun, and that "thingie" coming off it like some cellophane wrapper is called a solar prominence. Not to be confused with the Senior Promenade. What happens is that the Sun lets out a big fart of solar gases, you see, but somehow the Sun's magnetic field keeps it close in, nearby, where it just sort of... lingers. For up to a month. How big a fart: turns out the entire Earth could fit in that space between the Sun and the fart. What happens next is that the fart is ejected out into space. It becomes "magnetically unstable", and is spat out like a giant balloon letting off. This process takes anywhere from tens of minutes to hours to complete. but when you consider that the whole fart is 300000 km (187000 miles) long, well, lets just say it's bookin'. It's really pretty for a fart and that's why I picked it.

04-15-2004, 01:37 PM	#4
e unibus plurum garbage in, refuse out Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 98	yikes -- I hate ones that burn at both ends! __________________ //VTR.FT10F001 DD DATA

04-15-2004, 02:13 PM	#5
tjennings Belt Conveyor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sioux City, IA Posts: 66	SBD - Shining, but deadly __________________ No, no, you're not thinking, you're just being logical. Niels Bohr, physicist (1885-1962)

04-15-2004, 06:11 PM	#7
Pearcie (AUS) Superior Inhabitant Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 73	Props to UT I'd like to give props to UT for the best 'scientific' explanation of anything, anywhere, ever.

04-15-2004, 06:39 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Undertoad = The new and improved, Mr Wizard. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-15-2004, 12:55 PM	#2
Cochese Disorderly Orderly Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 54	Pictures of the sun are amazing. Almost looks like an artist's rendition, it's so clear.

04-15-2004, 12:56 PM	#3
MachineyBear Romantic Necromancer Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 29	Finally I have something else to blame my farts on.

04-15-2004, 05:03 PM	#6
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	Wow, now that's the kinda technical stuff I understand. Non of those scientific names. See TB told you you'd love this site.

04-15-2004, 06:18 PM	#8
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	Ditto

04-15-2004, 07:45 PM	#12
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Aren't we glad that we don't generate gigantic magnetic fields that contain our farts for tens of minutes to hours? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

04-15-2004, 07:49 PM	#13
onetrack Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Western Australia Posts: 99	That's one hot fart .. and here's me, thinking I've done some arse-burners at times .. Next project for the good scientists, is to tell us EXACTLY, how hot that fart was ....... __________________ Illiterate??? - Not a problem! Write today for more information!! ....

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