4/15/2004: Solar prominence
 

http://cellar.org/2004/sunprom2_soho.jpg

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.

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

Finally I have something else to blame my farts on.

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

SBD - Shining, but deadly

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

Props to UT
 

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

Ditto ;)

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.

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. :eek:

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

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

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

You're welcome.;)

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.